Exterior rearview mirror assembly

ABSTRACT

An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at the vehicle, a mirror head disposed at an end of the mounting arm and movable relative to the mounting arm, and an electrically operated actuator operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting arm. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element that, when the actuator is electrically operated, moves in tandem with the mirror head. The actuator, with the mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the vehicle, and when the actuator is electrically operated, moves the mirror head relative to the mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle who is viewing the mirror reflective element.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/822,630, filed Nov. 27, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,969,334,which continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/380,464, filedAug. 22, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,827,913, which is a 371 nationalphase filing of PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/027346, filed Feb. 22,2013, which claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional applications,Ser. No. 61/758,536, filed Jan. 30, 2013; Ser. No. 61/739,986, filedDec. 20, 2012; Ser. No. 61/705,876, filed Sep. 26, 2012; Ser. No.61/697,554, filed Sep. 6, 2012; Ser. No. 61/665,509, filed Jun. 28,2012; Ser. No. 61/664,438, filed Jun. 26, 2012; Ser. No. 61/647,179,filed May 15, 2012; Ser. No. 61/614,877, filed Mar. 23, 2012; and Ser.No. 61/601,756, filed Feb. 22, 2012, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/380,464 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/357,025, filed May 8, 2014, which is a 371 national stagefiling of PCT Application No. PCT/US2012/064398, filed Nov. 9, 2012,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, andwhich claims priority of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.61/705,876, filed Sep. 26, 2012; Ser. No. 61/697,554, filed Sep. 6,2012; Ser. No. 61/665,509, filed Jun. 28, 2012; Ser. No. 61/664,438,filed Jun. 26, 2012; Ser. No. 61/647,179, filed May 15, 2012; Ser. No.61/614,877, filed Mar. 23, 2012; Ser. No. 61/601,756, filed Feb. 22,2012; Ser. No. 61/590,578, filed Jan. 25, 2012; Ser. No. 61/565,541,filed Dec. 1, 2011; and/or Ser. No. 61/558,623, filed Nov. 11, 2011.U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/380,464 is also acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 13/023,747, filed Feb. 9, 2011, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,915,601, which claims priority of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/303,042, filed Feb. 10, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of rearview mirrorassemblies for vehicles and, more particularly, to an exterior rearviewmirror assembly that is operable to adjust a rearward field of view ofthe driver of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, an exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirroractuator that is operable to adjust a mirror reflective element relativeto the mirror casing so as to adjust a rearward field of view of thedriver of the vehicle. Powerfold exterior mirror assemblies include anactuator that pivots or folds the mirror casing relative to the side ofthe vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an exterior rearview mirror assemblyconfigured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly includes two actuators that areoperable to pivot and adjust the mirror head relative to the side of thevehicle so as to provide a mirror reflective element adjustment toadjust the rearward field of view of the driver of the vehicle and toprovide a powerfold adjustment to move the mirror head relative to theside of the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an exterior rearviewmirror assembly includes a base configured for attachment at an exteriorportion of a vehicle and a mirror head attached at the base andpivotable relative to the base. The mirror head includes a mirrorreflective element. A first actuator is operable to pivot or move thebase relative to the exterior portion of the vehicle about a first axis,and a second actuator operable to pivot or move the mirror head relativeto the base about a second axis. The first and second actuators arecooperatively operable to pivot or move the base about the first axisand to pivot or move the mirror head about the second axis to adjust themirror reflective element relative to the exterior portion of thevehicle to adjust the rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle.The first and second actuators may be operable at different rotationalspeeds to adjust the rearward field of view of the driver of thevehicle. The first and second pivot axes may be angled relative to oneanother at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 90 degrees.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exterior rearview mirrorassembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 1A and 1B are exploded perspective views of the exterior rearviewmirror assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 1, showing the tip/tilt of the mirror head via pivotalmovement about a second pivot axis of the mirror assembly;

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 1, showing the rotation of the mirror head via pivotalmovement about a first pivot axis of the mirror assembly;

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 1, showing the rotation of the mirror head via pivotalmovement about the first and second pivot axes of the mirror assembly,in order to laterally adjust the rearward field of view of the mirrorreflective element while limiting vertical adjustment of the rearwardfield of view of the mirror reflective element;

FIG. 3C is a schematic of a control system for controlling operation ofthe actuators of the exterior rearview mirror assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exterior rearview mirror assembly thatincorporates two actuators in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-C are perspective views of an actuator for the exteriorrearview mirror assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator of FIGS. 5A-C;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the actuator of FIGS. 5A-C;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a clutch element of the actuatorof FIG. 7;

FIG. 8A is another enlarged sectional view of a clutch element of theactuator, showing optional clutch engaging surfaces for the actuator;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a memory element of theactuator of FIGS. 5A-C;

FIG. 9A is an exploded perspective view of a memory device of the mirrorassembly of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a plan view of the contact rings of the memory device of FIG.9A established at the circuit element of the mirror assembly, shown withthe contacts disposed thereat;

FIG. 10A is a plan view of another exterior rearview mirror assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10B is a plan view of another exterior rearview mirror assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 11A-D are views of another exterior rearview mirror assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 12A-D are views of another exterior rearview mirror assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of an actuator having a friction coupler inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the actuator of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is another side elevation of the actuator of FIG. 13, with thebase portion removed to show additional details;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the actuator of FIG. 13, shown attachedat the mirror base and mirror mounting arm or bracket;

FIG. 17 is a schematic of an exterior rearview mirror system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17A is a side view schematic of the exterior rearview mirror systemof FIG. 17;

FIG. 17B is a side view schematic of a known construction of an exteriorrearview mirror assembly;

FIG. 17C is a side view schematic of another exterior rearview mirrorsystem of the present invention;

FIG. 17D is a side view schematic of another exterior rearview mirrorsystem of the present invention;

FIG. 18A is a plan view of an exterior rearview mirror assembly with anindicator established thereat in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18B is a sectional view of the exterior rearview mirror assembly ofFIG. 18A;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views of another exterior rearviewmirror assembly of the present invention, shown in its extended ornon-flush or use state;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIGS. 19 and 20, shown in its retracted or flush or non-usestate;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of another exterior rearview mirror assemblyof the present invention;

FIGS. 24-27 are perspective views of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 23, shown with the reflective element at differentangled orientations relative to the mirror casing;

FIGS. 28 and 29 are side elevations of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIGS. 26 and 27, shown with the reflective element angledupwardly and downwardly, respectively;

FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of another exterior rearview mirrorassembly of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a rear perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a rear elevation of the exterior rearview mirror assembly ofFIG. 30; and

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 30.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the present inventionmay comprise dual actuators and dual pivot axes for adjusting a mirrorhead and reflective element relative to a side of a vehicle at which themirror assembly is mounted. For example, and with reference to FIGS.1-3B, an exterior rearview mirror assembly 10 comprises a reflectiveelement 12 (such as a generally planar or bent reflective element andsuch as an electrochromic reflective element or a flat glass or curvedglass reflective element, such as a flat or curved reflective elementhaving a single flat or planar or curved or convex curved glasssubstrate or having two flat or curved substrates or the like) that isattached at a rear attaching portion 14 a of a mirror head housing 14.In the illustrated embodiment, the reflective element is adhered at arear attaching portion or surface 14 a (which may comprise a generallyplanar attaching surface or a slightly curved attaching surface or thelike) of the mirror head housing, with the front perimeter edge regionsof the glass substrate of the reflective element being curved or roundedor ground or polished (such as a polished perimeter that is polished toa water-clear finish and having a radius of curvature of at least about2.5 mm) to provide a convex curved smooth or continuous transitionbetween the generally planar front surface of the reflective element andthe side walls or surfaces of the mirror housing, such as in a similarmanner as discussed below.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B, mirror head housing 14 is attached at aninner bracket or mounting element 16 that is attached at a firstactuator 18, whereby rotational driving of the first actuator 18 impartsa rotation of bracket 16 and mirror head housing 14 about a first pivotaxis 18 a relative to an outer bracket or connector or mounting arm orintermediate arm 20. First actuator 18 is attached to or mounted at theouter bracket 20, which is mounted to or attached to a second actuator22, which is attached at or disposed at or in an outer cover 24. Thus,rotational driving of second actuator 22 imparts a rotation of bracket20 and first actuator 18 and bracket 16 and mirror head housing 14 abouta second pivot axis 22 a relative to the base of the mirror assemblyand/or the side of the vehicle at which the mirror assembly is mounted.The outer cover 24 is disposed at or attached to or mounted at the sideportion of the vehicle (and pivotally or rotatably mounted thereat, suchas via the actuator 22, which has its inner end attached at a structurethat is fixed relative to the vehicle) when the exterior mirror assemblyis normally mounted at the side of the vehicle.

When so mounted, the mirror head is adjustable about the first andsecond axes (via selective actuation of one or both actuators) to adjustthe rearward field of view for the driver of the vehicle. For example,and with reference to FIG. 2, when the second actuator 22 is selectivelyoperated to rotate or pivot outer bracket 20 relative to the side of thevehicle, the mirror head housing 14 is pivoted about the second pivotaxis 22 a to vertically adjust the rearward field of view for the driverof the vehicle (such as, for example, within about a +/−15 degree rangeof pivotal adjustment). Also, and with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B,when the first actuator 18 is selectively operated to rotate or pivotinner bracket 16 relative to outer bracket 20, the mirror head housing14 is pivoted about the first pivot axis 18 a to laterally adjust therearward field of view (such as, for example, within about a +/−60degree range of pivotal adjustment). The pivot axes may be angledrelative to one another to provide the desired cooperative pivoting ofthe mirror head and reflective element relative to the side of thevehicle at which the mirror assembly is mounted. For example, the pivotaxes may be angled relative to one another at an angle of at least about15 degrees or at least about 30 degrees or more, such as an angle of upto about 90 degrees, depending on the particular application of themirror assembly. The operation of the actuators and the operationalspeed of the actuators may be selected to provide the desired adjustmentof the mirror head and reflective element depending on the particularrelative angle of the pivot axes and/or the angle of the second pivotaxis 22 a relative to the side of the vehicle and/or the angle of thefirst pivot axis 18 a relative to the second pivot axis and/or relativeto the side of the vehicle.

Because of the angled relationship of the axes of rotation of theactuators and the angled interface or mounting interface of the mirrorhead housing 14 and outer cover 24, the first and second actuators maybe operated together or cooperatively operated to laterally adjust therearward field of view while maintaining a generally constant tip angle(and without also vertically adjusting the rearward field of view of thereflective element). Thus, when the mirror has been adjusted so that thereflective element has the desired vertical adjustment (via operation ofthe second actuator 22), a user may laterally adjust the mirror tolaterally adjust the rearward field of view of the reflective element,whereby both actuators 18 and 22 may operate to pivot the mirror headabout both pivot axes 18 a, 22 a so that the mirror head is pivotedtoward or away from the side of the vehicle while limiting verticaladjustment of the rearward field of view of the reflective element. Forexample, and as can be seen with reference to FIG. 3B, if the mirrorhead 14 is pivoted about pivot axis 22 a in the direction A, then theouter cover 24 may concurrently be pivoted about pivot axis 18 a in thedirection B, such that the mirror head may have limited or reducedvertical adjustment as it is laterally adjusted relative to the side ofthe vehicle (so that the mirror head is moved generally in the directionC in FIG. 3B).

Optionally, and desirably, the actuators 18, 22 may operate at differentspeeds to provide the desired or selected lateral adjustment withlimited vertical adjustment (and/or to provide a desired or selectedvertical adjustment with limited lateral adjustment and/or to provide adesired or selected vertical and lateral adjustment). The actuators maybe controlled by a control or control system that receives an input froma user actuatable device (such as a directional keypad or joystickcontrol common for controlling known exterior mirror actuators) and thatmay automatically control one or both of the actuators at the desireddirections and/or speeds to provide the desired or selected adjustmentof the mirror head and reflective element. The control may be operableto determine the appropriate adjustment speeds and degree of adjustmentfor the actuators to provide the desired adjustment in a manner thatappears (to a person viewing the mirror assembly during a lateraladjustment of the mirror head) to be a smooth lateral adjustment of themirror reflective element. The selected or appropriate speeds andadjustment ranges or angles may vary depending on the particularapplication of the mirror assembly, such as the particular angle of theside of the vehicle at which the mirror assembly is mounted, and/or theinterface angle of the mirror head and outer cover (relative to theangle of the side of the vehicle) and/or the relative angle between thepivot axes of the two actuators (it is envisioned that, at least forsome embodiments, the tip or vertical adjustment actuator may run at aslower speed than the lateral adjustment actuator to provide a smoothadjustment of the mirror reflective element and rearward field of view).

The control of the mirror assembly may be provided via any suitablecontrol system. For example, and with reference to FIG. 3C, a controlsystem 80 is operable to control the actuator motors to adjust themirror head housing and the reflective element, such as in response toone or more user inputs. Control system 80 includes a controller 82(such as a microcontroller or microprocessor or the like), which isoperable to control the motor drivers 84 and actuator motors 86responsive to one or more user inputs or buttons or switches 88.Controller 82 receives a position signal from each of the actuatormotors so that the controller knows the position or angle or degree ofrotation of each motor of the mirror assembly. As shown in FIG. 3C, thecontrol system 80 includes a supply conditioning element or device 90, aregulator 91, a motor supply cutthroat 92, a supply measure 93 incommunication with the controller 82 and a current sensor 94 incommunication with the controller, the motor supply cutthroat and eachof the motor drivers.

The configuration or architecture of the control system for the exteriorrearview mirror assembly is such that the specific mechanicalimplementation (i.e. the relative planes of motion of each actuator) isseparated from the vehicle control systems (and thus the control systemof the exterior mirror assembly may plug into an electrical connector ormain connector 96 of the vehicle (such as via a multi-pin connector orplug-and-socket type connector or the like), such as when the exteriorrearview mirror assembly is mounted at an exterior portion of a vehicleduring assembly of the vehicle. The necessary knowledge of themechanical implementation is fully contained within the control systemof the mirror assembly itself. This ensures that the vehicle controlsystems need not change for every application. This allows a greaterdegree of design and styling flexibility without affecting the vehiclecontrol systems.

The controller board incorporates a controller or microcontroller thatis responsible for overall mirror system control and status monitoring.The motion command input is received by the microcontroller either viathe user input buttons or toggle or switch 88 (such as for controllingup, down, left, right, fold and deploy motions and/or the like) or fromanother vehicle module via the communications block 98, typically eithera LIN or CAN bus or the like. The controller interprets the input orcommand and activates each motor driver accordingly. The control signalto each motor driver is pulse width modulated (PWM) to regulate thespeed of each motor and thereby each axis of motion in the mirrorassembly.

The speed of each motor is determined algorithmically based on themechanical configuration of the mirror assembly. In this manner, themirror assembly can move in a typical fashion regardless of the axisorientation. As the actual speed of each motor is dependent on thesupplied driving voltage as well as the ambient temperature of thesystem, the controller measures those parameters and furtheralgorithmically adjusts the pulse width of the control signal. As anadditional input, position feedback can be utilized to directly measurethe position and speed of each actuator and relative to each axis ofrotation. These attributes can be used by the controller to furtheradjust the pulse width supplied to each motor driver. Optionally, themirror assembly and/or control circuitry may operate the actuator oractuators at 12 volts or the like during normal operation, and mayinclude a booster circuit that is operable to operate the actuator at ahigher power or voltage (such as at 24 Volts or the like) for increasedspeed during a powerfold operation (where the mirror head is pivotedabout both axes to fold or move so as to be generally along the side ofthe vehicle).

This feedback enables real-time adjustment of the motion of the mirrorhead about each axis of rotation to provide highly accurate andrepeatable motion over time and wear during the life cycle of therearview mirror assembly. The control system is configured to alsoprovide a memory system for the mirror assembly, such as for vehicleapplications that include such memory systems. The vehicle moduleresponsible for the memory system typically provides a reference voltageand ground and reads back a scaled version of the reference voltage. Thecontroller in the exterior rearview mirror assembly provides thesescaled voltages via the position output signals. These signals arealgorithmically calculated from the position feedback read from eachactuator and are scaled to the provided reference voltage.

The exterior rearview mirror assembly of the present invention thusprovides for adjustment of the rearward field of view at the rearviewmirror via adjustment or operation of two actuators having different ornon-co-axial axes of rotation. For example, and as shown in FIG. 4, theexterior mirror assembly 10 has the mirror head housing 14 pivotallyattached at the outer cover 24 via the first actuator 18, wherebyrotational driving of the first actuator 18 imparts a rotation of mirrorhead housing 14 about the first pivot axis 18 a relative to the outercover 24. The outer cover 24 is pivotally attached at the side of thevehicle via the second actuator, whereby rotational driving of secondactuator 22 imparts of rotation of outer cover 24 and mirror headhousing 14 the a second pivot axis 22 a. The outer cover 24 is disposedat or attached to or mounted at the side portion of the vehicle (andpivotally or rotatably mounted thereat, such as via the actuator 22)when the exterior mirror assembly is normally mounted at the side of thevehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-7, actuator 18, 22 (the first actuator 18 ispreferably similar in construction and components as the second actuator22, so they are described as a common actuator below) comprises ahousing or bracket 30 that houses or receives the drive motor 32therein. In the illustrated embodiment, an output shaft 32 a (with aworm gear 32 b attached thereat) of the drive motor 32 is rotatablydrivable (via actuation of the drive motor 32 in the selected orappropriate direction) to rotatably drive a combination gear element 34,which, in turn, rotatably drives an output gear 36 at the housing 30 andat a gear bushing 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the gear element 34has a gear element 34 a that engages worm gear 32 b and a worm gearelement 34 b that engages a first gear element 36 a of output gear 36(such as through an opening or aperture 31 at a center housing portion30 a of housing 30, with the gear bushing 38 and first gear element 36 aof output gear 36 received in or nested in the center housing portion 30a and the worm gear 34 b disposed outboard of the center housing portion30 a and at the aperture 31). A rivet tube 40 extends through housing 30and receives or extends through a bearing washer 42 a and a bearing 42at one end (where a housing cover 30 b is attached to contain or housethe motor and other components with the housing 30). A memory system 44is disposed between the bearing washer 42 a and the gear bushing 38.Rivet tube 40 extends through or receives a spring 46 and spring washer48 at the other end of the tube 40, with a clutch plate 50 and anadapter plate 52 disposed between the spring 46 and the housing 30.

When the exterior rearview mirror assembly 10 is assembled and mountedat a vehicle, the housing 30 of second actuator 22 may be attached oraffixed at the side portion of the vehicle. The outer cover 24 has anattachment plate or receiver 54 (FIG. 4) that receives the spring 46 andspring washer 48 therein and that interfaces with and attaches to theadapter plate 52 (such as via a snap together connection or via one ormore fasteners or the like, or the adaptor plate and the mirror bracketor attachment plate may be combined and the rivet tube may hold theparts together instead of fasteners or the like). When assembled andmounted in this manner, rotational driving of drive motor 32 of secondactuator 22 imparts rotation of the output gear 36, which, in turn,rotatably drives the clutch plate 50, which rotatably drives the adapterplate 52 and thus the receiver 54 and outer cover 24 relative to theactuator housing 30 and the side of the vehicle. Likewise, when theexterior rearview mirror assembly 10 is assembled, the housing 30 of thefirst actuator 18 may be attached or affixed at the mirror housing 14and the attachment plate or receiver 54 may be attached or affixed atthe outer cover 24, such that rotational driving of drive motor 32 offirst actuator 18 imparts rotation of the output gear 36, which, inturn, rotatably drives the clutch plate 50, which rotatably drives theadapter plate 52 and thus the receiver 54 and outer cover 24 relative tothe actuator housing 30 and the mirror housing 14. The adapter plate 52is press fit at the rivet tube 40 such that rotation of the adapterplate imparts a corresponding rotation of the rivet tube, which rotatesvia bearing 42 relative to the housing cover portion 30 b and housing30.

As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the actuator comprises a clutch systemat the adapter plate 52, the clutch plate 50 and the housing 30. Asshown in FIG. 8, the adapter plate 52 has a manual clutch surface 52 athat engages a corresponding clutch surface 50 a of the clutch plate,and the clutch plate 50 includes another clutch surface 50 b thatengages a stabilization clutch surface 30 a of the housing 30. Thus,during electrical operation of the motor 32, the output gear 36 drivesthe clutch plate 52, which slides against the clutch surface 30 c of theactuator housing 30.

Such a clutch assembly or system provides a reduced or zero-backlashoutput that has enhanced vibrational stability. During manual operationof the mirror assembly (such as if a user manually grasps and rotatesthe mirror), the manual clutch surface 52 a of the adapter plate 52slides against the clutch surface 50 a of the clutch plate 50, while theclutch plate 50 is held steady by the gear train when the motor is notactuated. The mirror assembly can thus be manually adjusted about eitheraxis, whereby the clutch slips to allow for such manual adjustment andfor a breakaway function or feature. Optionally, the mirror assembly maybe manually controlled and operated by providing manual controls for thepivoting about the pivot axes of the mirror assembly to adjust therearward field of view of the mirror reflective element.

In the illustrated embodiment, the exterior rearview mirror assemblyuses two angled clutch surfaces to improve the lateral and rotationalstability of each of the first and second actuators. As can be seen inFIG. 8, the stabilization clutch surfaces 30 c, 50 b are disposed orestablished radially inward from the manual clutch surfaces 50 a, 52 a,and are configured at a sharper or steeper or increased angle relativeto the manual clutch surfaces. The increased angle and reduced diameterof the stabilization clutch surfaces reduces the minimum output torquerequired by the drive mechanism to electrically adjust the mirror whilestill allowing for a heavy manual adjustment effort and spring load (toreduce the possibility of unintentional manual adjustments of the mirrorassembly, such as via mild bumping of the mirror head or the like).

Although shown and described as having the angled clutch surfaces 50 a,52 a shown in FIG. 8, other shaped or contoured clutch surfaces may beimplemented while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For example, the clutch surfaces may have dual surfaces ornon-planar engaging surfaces or the like. For example, and withreference to FIG. 8A, the clutch surface 50 a′ may comprise a dualangled surface that engages a correspondingly formed clutch surface 52a′. Other shapes and configurations of the clutch surfaces may beimplemented while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

The actuator may include a memory system, such as a contact memorysystem or a non-contact memory system or the like. In the illustratedembodiment, the actuator includes memory system 44, which comprises amemory circuit element or circuit board 44 a, a memory wiper or element44 b and a memory wiper holder 44 c, which are disposed at the housing30 and between the housing 30 and the and an end cover element 30 b ofthe housing 30 (such as best seen in FIG. 7). The memory wiper holder 44c, memory wiper 44 b and adapter plate 52 are press fit or secured tothe rivet tube 40, so they all rotate together as a single construction,while the memory circuit board 44 a is fixed at the housing 30 and thusdoes not rotate with the memory wiper holder and wiper when the actuatoris actuated. As the adapter plate 52 is rotated relative to the housing30 (via rotational driving of the drive motor 32), the rivet tube 40rotates and the memory wiper 44 b attached at the memory wiper holder 44c is thus swept along circuitry traces or carbon ink traces 44 d on thememory circuit board 44 a (such as two concentric traces disposed aroundthe memory circuit board). Responsive to such sweeping of the memorywiper 44 b, circuitry determines the degree of rotation of the adapterplate or element relative to the housing based on the location of thememory wiper (which may contact both traces and thus may close a circuitor provide a jumper between the traces so that circuitry that iselectrically connected to the traces can determine the location of thememory wiper along the traces) along the circuit traces (which haveterminals at each end thereof for connection to circuitry that isoperable to determine where along the traces the wiper is located at anygiven time).

Thus, the memory system 44 is operable to determine the degree ofrotation of the mirror head relative to the outer housing and the degreeof rotation of the outer housing relative to the side of the vehicle,and the system may provide a memory selection function so a driver ofthe vehicle may save a particular mirror setting, such as in a similarmanner with conventional memory mirror systems. Thus, when a driver ofthe vehicle later selects the saved setting, one or both actuators 18,22 operate to set the mirror head at the appropriate position ororientation relative to the outer housing and to set the outer housingat the appropriate position or orientation relative to the side of thevehicle, in order to provide the desired or selected rearward field ofview to the driver of the vehicle.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, a memory system 44′comprises a memory circuit element or circuit board 44 a′, a pair ofmemory wipers or contacts or elements 44 b′, 44 c′ and a memory contactholder 44 d′, which are disposed at the housing and between the housingand the and the end cover element of the housing (not shown in FIGS. 9Aand 9B, but similar to the components shown in FIG. 7). The memorycontact holder 44 d′, memory contacts 44 b′, 44 c′ and the adapter plateare press fit or secured to the rivet tube, so they all rotate togetheras a single construction, while the memory circuit board 44 a′ is fixedat the housing and thus does not rotate with the memory wiper holder andwiper when the actuator is actuated, such as in a similar manner asdiscussed above.

Memory system 44′ comprises an absolute position feedback system thatprovides an unrestricted 360 degree planar movement of an element oractuator (such as either or both actuators 18, 22). The rotationalposition of the actuator is provided via three concentric rings 45 a′,45 b′, 45 c′ fabricated on the printed circuit board 44 a′ andoptionally constructed using a resistive ink. The innermost ring 45 a′and outermost ring 45 c′ are constructed by printing the resistive inkover a copper trace. The copper trace provides a low impedance path inparallel with the resistive element, electrically shorting theresistance of the ink. The center ring 45 b′ is constructed by printingthe resistive ink directly on the PCB substrate and on two small copperpads located about 180 degrees relative to each other. The length of thepads (along the arc of the circumference) is very narrow. The width ofthe pads is approximately equal to the width of the ring. These padsprovide an electrical connection to center ring 45 b′. One of these padsis connected to ground while the other is connected to a positivereference voltage. This construction creates two resistors in parallel,each occupying about half of the circumference of center ring 45 b′. Asshown in FIG. 9B, bridging the gap between inner ring 45 a′ and centerring 45 b′ is a contact 44 b′ and bridging the gap between center ring45 b′ and outer ring 45 c′ is a contact 44 c′. The contacts 44 b′, 44 c′comprise metallic elements that are each constructed to create a highlyconductive and flexible contact surface that rides on the resistive inksurface of the rings. Each metal contact on center ring 45 b′ appliesthe voltage sensed at the contact point on center ring 45 b′ onto theopposing ring (such as inner ring 45 a′ for contact 44 b′ and outer ring45 c′ for contact 44 c′).

The metal elements are placed at an angle relative to each other that issignificantly less than 180 degrees and significantly more than zerodegrees, such as at an angle of around 45 degrees or more or less. Thearrangement of contact 44 b′ and contact 44 c′ ensures that there is aunique voltage pair at every position in the 360 degrees of rotation ofthe actuator. In this manner, the absolute position of the actuator canbe determined algorithmically by reading the sensed voltages at each ofthe inner ring 45 a′ and the outer ring 45 c′. Motion direction can bedetermined algorithmically by repeatedly reading the sensed voltagesover time and determining which voltage leads the other as movementoccurs. Motion velocity can be determined algorithmically by repeatedlyreading the sensed voltages over time and determining the rate of changeof the voltage amplitude.

Thus, the memory system is operable to determine the position of theactuator at all times during operation of the mirror assembly. Each ofthe actuators includes a respective memory system so that the control ofthe mirror assembly can determine the degree of rotation of each of theactuators at any time, and can thus determine the position ororientation or plane of the mirror reflective element at any time. If360 degree motion is not needed, a single memory wiper and simplercarbon trace may be utilized to provide the appropriate memory function.Optionally, to limit rotation of the mirror head and/or the outer cover,one or more mechanical stops or elements may be provided (such as viamolding a stop feature onto the mirror head and mirror base or cover, sothat the molded features collide or engage to limit rotation of themirror head within a desired or appropriate range of motion.

Optionally, other mirror constructions are envisioned within the scopeof the present invention. For example, the angle of misalignment of thepivot axes of the first and second actuators may vary or may be selecteddepending on the particular application of the mirror assembly. Suchdifferent pivot axes may be varied to accommodate different interfaceangles between the outer cover and the side of the vehicle and/ordifferent interface angles between the mirror housing and the outercover, depending on the particular application of the mirror assembly.For example, and with reference to FIG. 10A, an exterior rearview mirrorassembly 10′ may have a greater angle between the axes of rotation ofthe actuators, while, and such as shown in FIG. 10B, an exteriorrearview mirror assembly 10″ may have an angle between the axes ofrotation of the actuator that approaches 90 degrees or thereabouts.Clearly, other constructions and configurations are contemplated formirror assemblies within the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, although the exterior mirror assemblies described above areshown with the axes of rotation of the actuators at a non-orthogonalangle (such as an obtuse angle) relative to one another, it isenvisioned that an exterior mirror assembly may have two or moreactuators providing different axes of rotation. For example, a thirdactuator and pivot axis may be added to achieve a more complex motion ofthe mirror head relative to the side of the vehicle (such as byutilizing a modular actuator or the like), and with the three (or more)actuators cooperatively operating at the same or different speeds toprovide the desired movement or adjustment of the mirror head.

Optionally, it is further envisioned that an exterior mirror assemblymay have two actuators with generally orthogonal axes of rotation whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Forexample, and with reference to FIGS. 11A-D, an exterior mirror assembly110 comprises a reflective element (such as a generally planar or bentreflective element and such as an electrochromic reflective element or aflat glass or curved glass reflective element, such as a flat or curvedreflective element having a single flat or planar or curved or convexcurved glass substrate or having two flat or curved substrates or thelike) that is attached at a rear attaching portion of a mirror headhousing 114. Mirror head housing 114 is pivotally attached at a mountingarm or element 116 via a first or outer actuator 118 (FIGS. 11B and11D), whereby rotational driving of the first actuator 118 imparts arotation of mirror head housing 116 about a first pivot axis 118 arelative to mounting arm 116. First actuator 118 is attached to ormounted at an outer end of mounting arm or element 116, which in turn ispivotally mounted at a sail mount of a vehicle via a second or inneractuator 122, which is configured to be attached at or disposed at or inthe sail mount at a side of a vehicle, whereby, when so attached at thevehicle, rotational driving of second actuator 122 imparts a rotation ofmounting arm 116 and first actuator 118 and mirror head housing 114about a second pivot axis 122 a. The second actuator 122 is disposed ator attached to or mounted at the side portion or sail mount of thevehicle when the exterior mirror assembly is normally mounted at theside of the vehicle.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot axis 122 a is generallyhorizontal and extends laterally at the side of the vehicle and thepivot axis 118 a is generally vertical when the exterior mirror assemblyis normally mounted at the side of the vehicle. Thus, rotation ofmounting arm 116 about pivot axis 122 a imparts a rotation of mirrorhead housing 114 and the reflective element in an upward and downwarddirection to provide vertical tilting of the mirror reflective element,and rotation of mirror head housing 114 about pivot axis 118 a imparts arotation of the reflective element about the vertical axis to providelateral adjustment of the field of view and to provide folding in andout of the mirror head.

Thus, when the mirror assembly 110 is mounted at the sail mount or sideof the vehicle, the mirror head is adjustable about the first and secondaxes (via selective actuation of one or both actuators) to adjust therearward field of view for the driver of the vehicle. For example, whenthe second actuator 122 is selectively operated to rotate or pivotmounting arm 116 relative to the side of the vehicle, the mirror headhousing 114 is pivoted about the second pivot axis 122 a to verticallyadjust the rearward field of view for the driver of the vehicle. Also,when the first actuator 118 is selectively operated to rotate or pivotmirror head housing 114 relative to mounting arm 116, the mirror headhousing 114 is pivoted about the first pivot axis 118 a to laterallyadjust the rearward field of view (such as, for example, within about a+/−60 degree or more range of pivotal adjustment).

Because of the generally orthogonal angled relationship of the axes ofrotation of the actuators, the first and second actuators may beoperated separately or together or cooperatively operated to verticallyand/or laterally adjust the rearward field of view. Thus, when themirror has been adjusted so that the reflective element has the desiredvertical adjustment (via only operation of the second actuator 122), auser may laterally adjust the mirror to laterally adjust the rearwardfield of view of the reflective element (via only operation of the firstactuator 118). In such an embodiment, the actuators 118, 122 may beindependently operated to adjust the mirror field of view verticallyand/or laterally, whereby the mirror assembly need not include acontroller that coordinates the speed and/or actuation of the actuatorsto provide the desired or selected field of view. For example, the userinput or toggle at the interior of the vehicle may control or adjust thefirst or outer actuator when moved or adjusted laterally or side-to-side(such as by the driver of the vehicle) and may control or adjust thesecond or inner actuator when moved up/down or fore/aft, and may controlboth actuators together (and at the same speed or optionally atdifferent speeds if desired) when moved diagonally.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 11A-D, the mirror assembly isconfigured to mount at the side of the vehicle, such as at a sail mountregion or at the door of the vehicle, with the axis of rotation 122 a ofthe second actuator 122 extending generally horizontally and laterallyat the side of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mountedat the side of a vehicle. Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 12A-D,a mirror assembly 110′ may be mounted at a side of the vehicle so thatthe axis of rotation 122 a′ of the second actuator 122′ is generallyvertical (and the axis of rotation 118 a′ of the first actuator 118′(FIGS. 12B and 12D) is generally horizontal and extends generallylaterally) when the mirror assembly is normally mounted at the side of avehicle, such as at a door mount of the vehicle or the like. In theillustrated embodiment, the mirror head housing 114′ is pivotallyattached at a mounting arm or element 116′ via the first or outeractuator 118′, whereby rotational driving of the first actuator 118′imparts a rotation of mirror head housing 116′ about the generallyhorizontal first pivot axis 118 a′ relative to mounting arm 116′. Firstactuator 118′ is attached to or mounted at an upper end of mounting armor element 116′, which in turn is pivotally mounted at a door mount of avehicle via the second or inner actuator 122′, which is configured to beattached at or disposed at or in the door mount at a side of a vehicle,whereby, when so attached at the vehicle, rotational driving of secondactuator 122′ imparts a rotation of mounting arm 116′ and first actuator118′ and mirror head housing 114′ about the generally vertical secondpivot axis 122 a′. Thus, the mirror assembly 110′ may function similarto mirror assembly 110, discussed above, but with the outer or upper orfirst actuator providing the vertical adjustment of the mirror head andreflective element and the inner or lower or second actuator providingthe lateral adjustment of the mirror head and reflective element.

Optionally, the dual actuator exterior mirror assembly of the presentinvention may include a frictional drive system for rotatably drivingthe mirror head or mounting arm via the respective actuator, whileproviding enhanced frictional retention of the mirror components whenthe actuator is not operating, and while reducing the torquerequirements of the actuator motors to pivot or rotate the mirror headand/or mounting arm or bracket relative to the mounting arm and/ormirror base and/or side of the vehicle at which the mirror assembly ismounted. Such a system isolates or decouples the actuator from themirror system, which allows a manual load at the mirror head to betransferred directly between the mirror head and the mirror base withoutbeing applied to the actuator.

For example, and with reference to FIGS. 13-16, a mirror actuator 122″is operable to pivot or rotate one mirror element relative to another.For example, the actuator may pivot or rotate a mirror head relative toa mounting arm or intermediate bracket the like or may pivot or rotatethe intermediate bracket or mounting arm 116″ or the like relative tothe mirror base 117″ or the vehicle (such as shown in FIGS. 13 and 17)or the like, such as in a similar manner as discussed above. In theillustrated embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 17, and as discussed below, theactuator 122″ operates to pivot or rotate the mounting arm relative tothe mirror base. However, the other actuator (not shown in FIGS. 13-17)of the dual actuator mirror assembly (disposed at the mounting arm orthe mirror head) may operate to rotate the mirror head relative to themounting arm or intermediate bracket in a similar manner. The actuatoris attached to or connected to the mirror components 116″, 117″ via arivet tube 140″, which extends through the housing 130″ of the actuatorand extends through or receives a spring 146″ and spring bearings 148″at the other end of the tube 140″. The actuator includes a frictioncoupler 150″ that is disposed at the tube 140″ and generally at or nearthe mounting arm 116″ and includes a lifter 152″ at the tube and coupledto the output gear 136″ (FIG. 16) of the actuator.

As can be seen in FIG. 16, when the actuator is not operating to pivotthe mounting arm relative to the base, the mounting arm 116″ (or housingor structure of the mounting arm or intermediate bracket) normally is incontact with the base 117″ (such as via a circumferential or ring-shapedprotrusion 117 a″ of the base that is at least partially received in acorrespondingly formed groove 116 a″ at the mounting arm), and the twocontacting surfaces 117 a″, 116 a″ frictionally engage one another togenerally fix or hold the mounting arm relative to the base. Also, whenthe actuator is not operating to pivot the mounting arm relative to thebase, the friction coupler 150″ is spaced or slightly spaced from themounting arm or bracket (with an angled engaging surface or clutchsurface 150 a″ of the friction coupler and an opposing angled engagingsurface or clutch surface 116 b″ of the mounting arm being slightlyspaced from one another). As best shown in FIG. 15, and when theactuator is not operating to pivot the mounting arm relative to thebase, lower ends or legs 150 b″ of the friction coupler 150″ aredisposed at a narrower portion 152 a″ of the lifter 152″ (with an uppertab or leg 152 b″ of lifter 152″ being disposed at a narrower region orrecessed region or portion 150 c″ of friction coupler 150″) so that thelifter is not urging the angled or conical clutch surface 150 a″ of thefriction coupler 150″ into frictional engagement with the angled orconical clutch surface 116 b″ of the mounting arm 116″. In theillustrated embodiment, the clutch surfaces are angled or conical toimprove the lateral and rotational stability of the actuator. Thus, whenthe actuator is not operating to pivot the mounting arm relative to thebase, the actuator is decoupled from the frictional engaging surfaces116 a″, 117 a″ that frictionally retain the mounting arm or bracketrelative to the mirror base or vehicle, since those surfaces are part ofthe bracket and base and not part of the actuator.

However, when the actuator is operated to rotate or pivot the mountingarm relative to the base, the output gear 136″ is rotatably driven bythe actuator motor, whereby the lifter 152″ is also rotated. As bestseen with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, initial rotation of the lifter152″ relative to the friction coupler 150″ causes the legs 150 b″ of thefriction coupler 150″ to ride or slide up along the ramped narrowerportion 152 a″ of the lifter 152″, which in turn urges the angled clutchsurface 150 a″ of the friction coupler 150″ into engagement with theclutch surface 116 b″. Thus, the lifter 152″ rotates to lift thefriction coupler 150″ into engagement with the mounting arm clutchsurface 116 b″, and as the friction coupler is urged into engagementwith the clutch surface 116 b″, the friction coupler 150″ lifts or movesthe mounting arm 116″ away from the base to disengage or at leastpartially disengage or decouple the groove 116 a″ of the mounting armfrom the protrusion 117 a″ of the mirror base (and thus reduce thefrictional contact between the mounting arm and the mirror base). Aftersuch lifting or rising up of the coupler, and as the lifter 152″ isfurther rotated relative to the friction coupler 150″, the legs 150 b″of the friction coupler 150″ will engage tabs or legs 152 b″ of thelifter 152″, whereby the friction coupler 150″ (and the mounting arm116″ due to the frictional engagement of the surfaces 150 a″ and 116 b″)will rotate with the lifter 152″ (which is rotatably driven by theactuator motor and output gear 136″). After an electrical cycle of theactuator motor to cause such rotation or pivotal movement of themounting arm, the actuator may be driven in the opposite direction toget the mirror back to its normal state (such as a small degree ofrotation in the opposite direction to move the lifter relative to thefriction coupler so that the legs of the coupler are at the narrowerportion of the lifter and the clutch surface of the coupler is againspaced from or decoupled from the mounting arm or bracket structure).

Thus, when the actuator is not operating to rotate the mounting armrelative to the base (or to rotate the mirror head relative to themounting arm), the clutch interface or frictional interface is theinterface of the mounting arm and the base and is separated from orisolated from or decoupled from the actuator. Thus, manual rotation ofthe mounting arm relative to the base (or the mirror head relative tothe mounting arm) is done via frictional movement of the clutch surfaces116 a″, 117 a″, with no rotation of the internal actuator components orelements. The clutch system above decouples the frictional engagement ofthe mirror components from the actuator, which allows for use of higherfrictional interface between the mirror components (such as at surfaces116 a″, 117 a″) to enhance the stability and vibrational performance ofthe mirror assembly, without adding additional torque requirements tothe actuator to overcome such frictional forces. This is because whenthe actuator is actuated to rotate the mirror components relative to oneanother, the higher frictional interface at the surfaces 116 a″, 117 a″is disengaged or at least reduced, thereby reducing the torque requiredto rotatably drive the mirror components relative to one another.

Optionally, the multi-axis actuating mechanism, such as the dualactuator mechanisms described above, of the present invention may beincorporated into a mounting/attachment device/element/unit thatattaches or mounts at a side of a vehicle at a location whereconventional exterior sideview mirrors are typically disposed, and isactuatable to adjust, via a support arm or structure, an attachmentelement or bracket (that is disposed at a distal end of the support armor structure from the side of the vehicle) about multiple degrees offreedom with respect to the side of the vehicle in order that therearward field of view of a mirror reflective element supported by, andadjusting in tandem with, the bracket can be adjusted by the actuatingmechanism via the support arm structure to allow the driver to adjusthis or her rearward and/or sideward field of view. The attachment devicethus may be mounted at the side of the vehicle, and a selected orappropriate mirror reflective element (that may comprise anelectro-optic mirror reflective element or a non-electro-optic or fixedreflectance mirror reflective element) and mirror casing may be readilyattached to the attachment element or bracket (and optionally the mirrorcasing may be attached at the mirror reflective element itself), so thatboth the reflective element and the mirror casing move in tandem,whereby the mounting device may adjust the attachment element and themirror head attached thereto about multiple axes relative to the side ofthe vehicle to adjust the rearward field of view of the driver of thevehicle and/or to pivot or fold the mirror head along the side of thevehicle or the like. Thus, a common or standard or universalmounting/attaching device may be mounted at or attached at the side ofthe vehicle and may adjust an attachment element or bracket (which mayhave a reflective element and mirror casing or structure attachedthereto) inward/outward, forward/rearward, up/down and rotationallyabout multiple axes of rotation (such as about pitch, yaw and roll axesor about a generally vertical axis and/or other axes non-coaxial withthe first or generally vertical axis or the like) with respect to theside of the vehicle at which it is mounted and the ground plane at thevehicle.

For example, and with reference to FIG. 17, an adjustment device ormounting device or actuator device 230 may be attached at a side 232 ofa vehicle (such as at a driver or passenger side vehicle door or windowor the like) and may include one or more actuators that are operable toprovide multiple degrees/axes of freedom of adjustment of an attachmentplate or bracket 234 relative to the vehicle side 232. The mounting orattaching device 230 may include an attachment element or structure 236for attaching at the vehicle, and the attachment structure 236 may houseor support one or more actuators 238 for adjusting a support arm orstructure 240 relative to the vehicle side 232. The actuators may becooperatively operable similar to the dual actuators of the mirrorassemblies described above or may otherwise provide multiple axes ofadjustment of the attachment plate and mirror head (such as, forexample, a ball actuator that may rotate or pivot the mounting arm orstructure 240 in a three dimensional manner at the side of the vehicle).For example, the arm may be pivoted up/down and forward/rearward and anydirections in between, and the arm may be rotated about its longitudinalaxis to further adjust the arm and the attachment element and thereflective element relative to the side of the vehicle (thus providingindependent and/or cooperative pitch, yaw and roll adjustment of thereflective element relative to the side of the vehicle).

As shown in FIG. 17, the attachment element or bracket 236 is disposedat the outer or distal end of the support arm or structure 240, and amirror reflective element 242 (which typically includes a backing plateor backplate and a heater pad disposed at a rearward surface of thereflective element) may be attached to the attachment element or bracket236. Thus, adjustment of the support arm or structure causes acorresponding tandem adjustment of the attachment element 236 and of themirror reflective element 242 to adjust the rearward field of view ofthe driver of the vehicle and/or to provide a powerfold function for themirror reflective element. Optionally, and desirably, a mirror casing orshell 244 (FIG. 17A) may be readily attached at the mirror attachmentelement or bracket or to the mirror reflective element itself in orderto provide the desired or appropriate appearance or styling of theexterior rearview mirror at the side of the vehicle and to providemechanical protection of the reflective element and the like fromenvironmental exposure. The mirror casing or shell may be attached viaany suitable means, such as via snapping one or more casing portions atthe rear of the mirror reflective element and/or bracket. When soattached, the mirror casing or shell moves in tandem with the tandemmovement of the mirror reflective element 242 and attachment element 236via adjustment of the support arm by the actuator or actuators of theattachment device.

Thus, a vehicle manufacturer may elect for at least a subset of itsvehicle nameplates/models, a standardized attachment element and/orbracket and/or backplate and/or support arm (such as a standardized orcommon or universal mounting or actuator device), and then may attach aselected or appropriate reflective element and housing to the attachmentelement or bracket or backplate. The selected reflective element may beselected or customized for that particular vehicle nameplate or bodystyle or optional mirror content (or for a vehicle model within avehicle nameplate), and may provide the selected or desired orappropriate size and shape and type of reflective element for thatparticular vehicle. Similarly, the mirror casing or housing or shell maybe selected and may be attached at the mirror reflective element or atthe attachment element or the like of the mounting device, in order toprovide the selected or desired or appropriate size and shape and colorand styling of the exterior rearview mirror assembly for that particularvehicle. Optionally, the mirror casing may be customizable for theparticular vehicle line or style or for the particular vehicle inaccordance with the customer's preferences. Thus, in accordance withthis aspect of the present invention, a standardized set of actuatordevice/support arm/attachment plate may be utilized across all vehiclemodels of a vehicle nameplate (such as, for example, all of the vehiclemodels of the Lincoln nameplate) of a vehicle manufacturer (such as, forexample, Ford Motor Company), whereby different customized or selectedmirror reflective elements and mirror casings may be selected forparticular models (such as, for example, one design for the MKZ modeland another design for the MKT model) for that nameplate of that vehiclemanufacturer.

The mounting device and mirror reflective element and mirror casing mayutilize any suitable attachment or mounting means, and may utilizeaspects of the mirror assemblies and door assemblies of the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037; 6,669,267 and/or 6,616,314, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Forexample, the mirror casing may be provided as a clamshell constructionor may constructed so that it first attaches to the mirror reflectiveelement and the support arm is received through an aperture in themirror casing to attach at the rear of the reflective element. When themounting device and the mirror reflective element and mirror casing areso mounted at the side of a vehicle, the actuator or actuators of themounting device is/are operable to move the mounting arm and attachmentelement or bracket (and the reflective element and mirror casingattached thereat) about multiple axes to provide the desired threedimensional adjustment of the mirror reflective element at the side ofthe vehicle (such as up/down and forward/rearward pivotable movement andclockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement about multiple axes,such as movement or adjustment about the pitch, yaw and roll axes).Thus, relative to the fulcrum point of the actuator device (at or nearthe side of the vehicle), the mirror reflective element can be moved soas to be in multiple orientations/planes at the side of the vehicle sothat the driver can select his/her desired/required sideward andrearward field of view.

A typical known exterior mirror construction 260 is shown in FIG. 17B,where the mirror reflective element 262 is disposed in or housed in amirror casing 264 (and is inboard of the open end of the mirror casingand not attached thereto) and is adjustable relative to the mirrorcasing via a mirror actuator 266, which is also disposed in the mirrorcasing and occupies space behind the reflective element and within thecavity of the mirror casing. Also, all of the wiring for powering themirror actuator and (if applicable) the electro-optic mirror reflectiveelement and/or heater pad needs to be routed into the mirror head forpowering the actuator and the like, thereby requiring complicated wiremanagement to route the wires into the mirror casing and around and tothe mirror actuator. In contrast to such known constructions, thepresent invention provides a mirror assembly that has the reflectiveelement 242 disposed at and attached to or otherwise fixed relative tothe mirror casing 244, such that, during adjustment, the reflectiveelement and mirror casing move in tandem about the fulcrum of themounting device at or near the side of the vehicle. As can be seen withreference to FIG. 17A, such a construction allows for space within themirror casing that previously was occupied by the mirror actuators ofknown or conventional mirror assemblies. Such a construction may alsoease the wire management of any wires needed to power the reflectiveelement and/or heater pad and/or any accessory disposed at the mirrorhead, since the space within the mirror casing may be substantially openor unoccupied by the likes of a mirror actuator.

By eliminating the conventional actuators commonly used in conventionalexterior rearview mirror assemblies to date, opportunities arise toprovide additional electronic content in the exterior rearview mirror(such as at the areas where the conventional actuators used to reside).Thus, for example, the exterior rearview mirror may include variouselectronic accessories therein or thereat, and may include the likes ofbus connectors, such as an Ethernet terminal or the like. Optionally,for example, and such as shown in FIG. 17D, a camera or camera module246 (such as a rearward facing camera and/or a downward facing cameraand/or a sideward facing camera and/or a forward facing camera) may beinstalled or included in or at the exterior rearview mirror assembly,such as at or in the mirror casing or shell 244″ (which may comprise anysuitable and optionally asymmetrical construction or design), and may beprovided as a modular unit camera that may be readily included andelectrically connected or plugged in at the mounting device when themirror reflective element and/or mirror casing are attached at themounting device (such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systemsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,017,898; 8,262,268; 5,760,962 and/or5,550,677, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties). The attaching device 230 and support arm 240 for thereflective element 242 in FIG. 17D may be similar to those describedabove or may be constructed for the particular application orapplications of the attaching device. Thus, a camera module (preferablycomprising a lens system, a CMOS photosensor array and associated logicand control circuitry, and such as by utilizing aspects of the camerasdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,677; 5,760,962; 6,396,397; 6,097,023;5,877,897 and 5,796,094, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties) may be procured from an automotive cameramodule manufacturer and provided to the exterior sideview mirrormanufacturer and configured to be received at the exterior rearviewmirror assembly in an orientation that correctly sets the desired fieldof view of the received camera module. Ancillary electronics and/orrequired power sources/signal sources, including bus (such as CAN or LINbus) interfaces/connectors, may be at least partially provided by theexterior mirror manufacturer itself, and may be incorporated into theconfiguration/construction of the exterior mirror assembly, therebyreducing the cost and complexity of the procured camera module.

Optionally, and desirably, the camera or camera module may be includedin the mirror head along with a ground illumination light and/or a turnsignal, such as in accordance with U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,262,268 and/or8,066,415, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Preferably, the incorporated camera is part of amulti-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle and is operable toonline calibrate/automatically calibrate, such as in accordance withU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,991,522 and/or 7,877,175, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, and more preferably is operableas part of an overall vision system that includes object detection suchas in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 8,386,114, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Preferably, imagesfrom at least two individual cameras of the multi-camera vision systemof the vehicle are stitched/combined (preferably seamlesslystitched/combined) to form a single composite image that is viewable ona display and usable by the driver of the vehicle when operating thevehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,859,565, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

Also, because, with the present invention, there is no longer a need fora mirror head with an actuator disposed therein, the shape of the mirrorcasing or housing (as presented to the wind flow as the vehicle drivesin a forward direction of travel) need not follow traditionalaerodynamic lines, and may effectively follow a shape that optimizesaerodynamic flow and minimizes the likes of eddy currents and turbulencein the air flow as experienced as the vehicle is driven forwardly on aroad. For example, and with reference to FIG. 17C, a mirror casing 244′may be provided at the reflective element 242 (which is attached at thedistal end of the mounting arm or structure 240 of the mounting device230), with the mirror casing selectively shaped or styled for theparticular application, whereby the mirror casing may or may not havethe typical mirror casing shape and typical interior cavity rearward ofthe reflective element, such as typically provided in known exteriormirror constructions. As illustrated in FIGS. 17A, 17C and 17D, thedisposition of the mirror reflective element to the exterior mirrorcasing/shell may preferably be such as described in U.S. Pat. No.8,049,640 and/or in PCT Application No. PCT/US2011/056295, filed Oct.14, 2011 and published Apr. 19, 2012 as International Publication No. WO2012/051500, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/032017, filed Apr.22, 2010 and published Oct. 28, 2010 as International Publication No. WO2010/124064, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7,2010 and published Apr. 14, 2011 as International Publication No. WO2011/044312, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Thus, the exterior rearview mirror assembly of the present inventionprovides a frameless exterior or sail mount mirror assembly that has theactuators at the mounting arm or structure of the mirror assembly andnot within the mirror housing and not attached at the rear of thereflective element. The actuators adjust the mirror head and thereflective element in tandem (and do not adjust the reflective elementrelative to the mirror casing). The dual actuator (or multiple degreesof freedom actuator or actuators) of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly or system of the present invention thus provides a mirror headthat can be any shape and that does not require space in the mirror headfor conventional actuators that operate to adjust or orient thereflective element relative to the mirror housing or casing. The mirrorreflective element can be adhered or otherwise fixedly attached at asurface or mounting portion of the mirror head, and the mirror head canbe any shape (such as generally flat or having a narrow or thin profileor the like) depending on the particular application of the mirrorassembly and the vehicle manufacturer's design preferences. The mirrorassembly of the present invention thus allows for inclusion of otheraccessories (such as turn signal indicators, blind spot indicators,lights, displays and/or the like) in the mirror head, without concernsof interference with conventional actuators disposed in the mirror headand at and behind the mirror reflective element. The exterior rearviewmirror assembly and/or actuators may utilize aspects of the exteriorrearview mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,722,199;7,314,285; 7,267,449; 7,159,992; 7,104,663; 7,093,946; 7,080,914;7,073,914; 6,916,100; 6,755,544; 6,698,905; 6,685,864; 6,467,920;6,362,548; 6,312,135; 6,243,218; 6,229,226; 6,213,612; 5,986,364;5,900,999 and/or 5,703,731, and/or U.S. patent applications, U.S. patentapplications Ser. No. 13/249,433, filed Sep. 30, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.8,764,256, Ser. No. 13/023,747, filed Feb. 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.8,915,601, Ser. No. 11/504,353, filed Aug. 15, 2006 and published Jan.4, 2007 as U.S. Publication No. 2007/002477, and/or Ser. No. 13/663,542,filed Oct. 30, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,541, and/or U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 61/645,959, filed May 11, 2012, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The exterior rearview mirror assembly of the present invention thusprovides for a mirror head with a reflective element fixedly disposedthereat, such that additional content and/or enhanced styling may bereadily achieved at the mirror head without concerns of space behind thereflective element (such space is typically taken up by a mirrorreflective element actuator, which is not included in the exteriorrearview mirror assembly of the types described above). Optionally, forexample, the technology of the present invention allows for newtechnology or content to be readily added to and mounted into the mirrorhead. For example, the mirror head may include a camera disposed behindthe reflective element, and/or the mirror head may include a displayscreen (such as a liquid crystal display screen or the like) disposedbehind the reflective element and/or the mirror head may include anyother electronic or mechanical content, such as, for example, a blindspot indicator and/or a turn signal indicator and/or an illuminationmodule and/or wide angle reflector elements and/or the like (such as byutilizing aspects of the exterior mirror assemblies described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 8,058,977; 7,944,371; 7,492,281; 6,198,409; 5,929,786;5,786,772; 7,581,859; 6,227,689; 6,582,109; 5,371,659; 5,497,306;5,669,699; 5,823,654; 6,176,602; 6,276,821; 7,748,856; 7,255,451;7,195,381; 6,717,712; 7,126,456; 6,315,419; 7,097,312 and/or 6,522,451,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/187,725 , filed Aug. 7, 2008,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,786,704, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 16, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 asInternational Publication No. WO 2006/124682, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, the reflective element may comprise a frameless reflectiveelement, such as the types marketed as a prismatic or electrochromicINFINITY™ mirror, such as are shown and/or described in U.S. Des. Pat.Nos. D633,423; D633,019; D638,761 and/or D647,017, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2012/064398, filed Nov. 9, 2012 and published May16, 2013 as International Publication No. WO 2013/071070, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2011/056295, filed Oct. 14, 2011 and publishedApr. 19, 2012 as International Publication No. WO 2012/051500, and/orPCT Application No. PCT/US2010/032017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and publishedOct. 28, 2010 as International Publication No. WO 2010/124064, and/orPCT Application No. PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 and publishedApr. 14, 2011 as International Publication No. WO 2011/044312, and/orU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,253,723 and/or 8,154,418, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. In such an application, themirror reflective element may have a rounded or ground perimeter edgeregion at its periphery of the front surface, and such a rounded orground or polished perimeter edge region of the glass substrate of thereflective element may be exposed to or viewable by the driver of thevehicle and may comprise a polished perimeter that is polished to awater-clear finish and may have a radius of curvature of at least about2.5 mm. The rounded perimeter edge of the glass substrate of the mirrorreflective element may provide a generally smooth or continuoustransition from the generally planar (or slightly curved) front surfaceof the mirror reflective element to the outer surface of the mirror heador mirror casing at which the mirror reflective element is mounted.Optionally, the mirror reflective element may have a thin or very thinbezel at the perimeter region of the front surface of the reflectiveelement, and optionally, the mirror reflective element may have a clearbezel at the perimeter region of the front surface of the reflectiveelement, or the like, depending on the particular application of themirror assembly and the desired appearance and/or styling of the mirrorassembly.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B, an exteriorrearview mirror reflective element assembly 360 may include one or moreindicators 362 disposed at a perimeter region of the mirror reflectiveelement 360, such as for providing a blind spot indicator or lane changewarning or the like to the driver of the vehicle equipped with themirror assembly and/or for providing a turn signal indicator for driversof other vehicles to the side and/or rear of the equipped vehicle (suchas by utilizing aspects of the indicators described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,255,451 and/or 7,195,381, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties). Reflective element assembly 360comprises an electrochromic reflective element having a front substrate364 and a rear substrate 366 with an electrochromic medium 368sandwiched therebetween and in an interpane cavity 370 bounded by aperimeter seal 372. The rear surface 364 b of the front substrate 364has a transparent conductive coating or layer 374 disposed thereat andthe front surface 366 a of the rear substrate 366 has a metallic mirrorreflective layer or layers 375 disposed thereat. An opaque orsubstantially non-light-transmitting perimeter band or hiding layer 376(preferably a reflective and electrically conductive perimeter band orcoating or layer that comprises at least one metal thin film layer) isdisposed around the periphery of the rear surface 364 b of the frontsubstrate 364 to hide or conceal the perimeter seal 372 (and preferablyto hide or conceal electrical connections made at the rear surface 364 bof the front substrate 364 and/or at the front surface 366 a of the rearsubstrate 366 where, preferably, a third surface mirror reflector isdisposed) when a person views the reflective element assembly from thefront surface 364 a of the front substrate 364. Preferably, no part ofthe rear substrate protrudes beyond any part of the front substrate,such that a viewer viewing the front substrate when normally using theequipped exterior rearview mirror assembly, does not discern or view therear substrate. Optionally, and desirably, the electrochromic mirrorreflective element may comprise a laminate type electrochromic mirrorreflective element built in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,187,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In the illustrated embodiment, the indicator 362 comprises an organiclight emitting diode (OLED) disposed in an OLED cavity 370 a establishedat a perimeter region of the reflective element assembly and outboard ofthe EC cavity 370, with the OLED cavity 370 a bounded by an outer sealportion 372 a of the perimeter seal 372 and an inner seal portion 372 bof the perimeter seal 372. The seal 372 thus may be dispensed around theperiphery of the reflective element assembly and may be dispensed aroundthe OLED cavity to define and seal the OLED cavity 370 a and to isolatethe OLED cavity from the EC cavity 370. Optionally, and as shown inFIGS. 18A and 18B, the perimeter band 376 may be made wider at the OLEDindicator 362 to hide or conceal the perimeter band portions thatcircumscribe the OLED cavity 370. A window 376 a is established (such asvia laser ablation or etching or the like) through the perimeter band376 at the OLED indicator 362 and OLED cavity 370 a so that illuminationemanating from the OLED indicator 362, when powered or activated orenergized, is viewable through the window 376 a at the perimeter band376.

The OLED indicator 362 is operable to illuminate responsive toelectrical power applied thereto. The OLED material is an SPM-likematerial that may be filled into the separate cavity and that isilluminated when powered, with the glass conductive coatings configuredto allow for separate electrification of the electrochromic medium andthe OLED indicator. For example, and as shown in FIG. 18B, a delineationline or isolation line 375 a may be established through mirrorreflective layer or layers 375 to electrically isolate a principalreflecting region or portion 375 b of the mirror reflective layer orlayers 375 and an outboard OLED portion or region 375 c of the mirrorreflective layer or layers 375. Thus, the OLED indicator 362 may beelectrically powered (such as via an electrical connection made at thethird surface reflective layers at or near the OLED cavity) separatelyfrom the electrochromic medium 368 (which may be electrically poweredvia an electrical connector at a busbar or the like along a perimeterregion of the rear substrate). Although described herein as comprisingan OLED indicator, it is envisioned that the indicator may comprise anysuitable material that may glow or emit light when energized or powered,while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.Also, although shown and described as comprising an electrochromicreflective element assembly having an electrochromic medium, it isenvisioned that the reflective element (with an indicator such asdescribed above) may comprise other types of reflective elements orreflective element assemblies, such as other electro-optic reflectiveelement assemblies or a liquid crystal reflective element assembly orthe like, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

Optionally, an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the presentinvention may be extendable and retractable between a retracted orstowed or non-use position and an extended or use position. When in itsretracted position, the exterior rearview mirror assembly may bedisposed at least partially and preferably substantially within a recessat the side of the vehicle so that an outer portion of the exteriormirror casing may be proximate or generally flush with the side of thevehicle. For example, and with reference to FIGS. 19-22, an exteriorrearview mirror assembly 410 is mountable at a side 412 a of a vehicle412 (such as at a side door of the vehicle and such as at a corner orsail portion of the side door of the vehicle and forward of a sidewindow of the vehicle door). The exterior mirror assembly 410 includes amirror head 414 (comprising a mirror casing 416 and a mirror reflectiveelement 418) that is adjustable relative to a base portion 420 mountedat or received at the vehicle or vehicle door. The mirror head 414 andmirror casing 416 is pivotable or adjustable between an extended or useposition (FIGS. 19 and 20), where the mirror casing and the reflectiveelement 418 are extended so as to be disposed outboard of the side ofthe vehicle or door, and a retracted or non-use position (FIGS. 21 and22), where the mirror casing and the reflective element 418 areretracted so as to be disposed inboard of the side of the vehicle ordoor.

The exterior mirror assembly 410 includes an actuator orextension/retraction mechanism that is operable to pivot or adjust ormove the mirror head 414 (including the mirror casing 416 and the mirrorreflective element 418) relative to the side of the vehicle or vehicledoor. The actuator or mechanism may pivot or move the mirror headresponsive to a user input and/or may automatically extend the mirrorhead when the vehicle is being driven and may retract the mirror headwhen the vehicle is not being driven (or responsive to other inputs orsignals, such as a signal indicative of a detection of an object at orapproaching the mirror assembly, whereby the mirror assembly may beretracted to avoid or minimize impact).

The exterior mirror assembly 410 may also include a mirror actuator thatis operable (such as responsive to a user input or the like) to adjustthe mirror reflective element relative to the mirror casing (when themirror head is in its extended position or state) to adjust the rearwardfield of view of the driver of the vehicle. Optionally, the mirroractuator may be non-operable when the mirror head is in its retractedposition.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 420 of mirror assembly410 comprises a generally triangular shaped structure that is disposedat or received at the A-pillar of the vehicle 412 so as to be disposedforward of the side window of the vehicle door (and optionally the baseportion may be incorporated into the vehicle door frame or into thevehicle frame or body structure, depending on the particular applicationand vehicle). The base portion 420 has a generally triangular shaped (ortruncated triangular shaped) opening or recess 420 a that substantiallyreceives the head portion 414 therein when the head portion 414 is inits stored or non-use position. The recess 420 a may be surrounded orframed by an outer surface portion 420 b of the base portion 420.

As best shown in FIG. 21, mirror casing 416 of head portion 414 includesan outer, generally planar panel 416 a and upper and lower panels 416 b,416 c that substantially house the mirror reflective element 418 (and amirror actuator, if applicable). The outer panel 416 a may substantiallycorrespond in color and/or texture and/or appearance with the outersurface or portion 420 b, such that, when the mirror head 414 is in itsstored position (FIGS. 21 and 22), the outer panel 416 a of the mirrorcasing 416 may be substantially flush or coplanar with the outer surfaceor portion 420 b of the base portion 420. As can be seen in FIG. 20, theouter panel 416 a may extend beyond the outer surfaces of the upper andlower panels or portions 416 b, 416 c of mirror casing 416 so as toprovide a lip 416 d around the mirror casing that may engage or sealagainst a portion of the base 420 when the mirror head is in itsretracted state to seal against the base portion and limit water or dirtintrusion into the cavity or recess of the base portion.

Thus, when the mirror head is retracted, the side of the vehicle has nomirror protruding outwardly therefrom and the outer panel 416 a of themirror casing 416 of the mirror head 414 provides an outer panel orsurface at the side of the vehicle or vehicle door, and may be generallyor substantially coplanar or flush with the outer surface of the baseportion 420 and/or of the vehicle body and/or vehicle door. When themirror head is extended, the reflective element 416 is moved outwardfrom the pocket or recess of the base portion 420 and is visible at theside of the vehicle or vehicle door to the driver of the vehicle. Whenthe mirror head is extended, the driver can adjust the mirror reflectiveelement relative to the mirror casing to adjust the driver's rearwardfield of view, such as via a toggle or user input in the vehicle cabin.The present invention thus provides an extendable and retractableexterior sideview or rearview mirror assembly, where the mirror may besubstantially or fully retracted when not in use to provide a generallyflush appearance at the side of the vehicle or vehicle door. Optionally,the exterior sideview or rearview mirror assembly may be adjustable toits extended state or orientation responsive to a blind spot detectionsystem or lane change assist system of the vehicle, where the mirrorhead is extended when the system detects an object at or approaching theside of the vehicle and optionally when the driver actuates a turnsignal of the vehicle, whereby extension of the mirror head may providean additional alert to the driver that an object is present at orapproaching the side lane adjacent the vehicle. Optionally, the exteriorsideview or rearview mirror assembly may utilize aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,777,611 and/or PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US2012/062905, filed Nov. 1, 2012 and published May 10, 2013 asInternational Publication No. WO 2013/067082, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include a camera and/or an indicatoror illumination source or module (such as a turn signal indicator or aground illumination light or other lighting device). For example, acamera and/or an indicator may be disposed at the mirror housing and maybe operable at least when the mirror head is in its extended state (withthe camera optionally being disposed at or behind the reflective elementand optionally viewing through the reflective element and/or beingdisposed elsewhere within or at the mirror housing, and with theindicator or lighting device optionally being disposed at or behind thereflective element and optionally being viewable through the reflectiveelement and/or being disposed elsewhere within or at the mirrorhousing). Optionally, the camera and/or indicator and/or lighting devicemay be disposed generally at the outer panel 416 a and may be operablewhen the mirror head is in its retracted state. For example, a turnsignal indicator may be disposed at the outer panel and may be operablewhen the mirror head is in either the extended state or retracted state.Likewise, for example, a camera may be disposed at or near the outerpanel and may be operable to provide rear vision when the mirror isfolded in (such as by utilizing aspects of the rear vision systemsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,935 and 5,550,677, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, the mirror casing of an exterior rearview mirror assembly ofthe present invention may be fixedly disposed or attached at a side of avehicle (or movably disposed thereat and movable to pivot between a useposition and a folded position, such as for a breakaway mirror or powerfolding mirror), and an inner casing or housing, which at leastpartially encases or encompasses the rear of the reflective element andthe backing plate and actuator, is received in the mirror casing andmoves with the reflective element and relative to the non-moving mirrorcasing. For example, and with reference to FIGS. 23-29, an exteriorrearview mirror assembly 510 includes a mirror reflective element 512and a fixed or outer mirror casing 514, with the mirror reflectiveelement 512 being adjustable (such as via one or more actuators 516)relative to the mirror casing 514 to adjust the driver's rearward andsideward view at the side of the vehicle. A backing plate or attachmentplate 518 is attached at the rear of the mirror reflective element 512and attaches the mirror reflective element to a mirror actuator 516,which is electrically operable to adjust the mirror reflective elementresponsive to a user input in the vehicle. A shroud or inner casing orhousing 520 is disposed or established at the perimeter of thereflective element 512 and extends into the mirror casing 514 to atleast partially encompass or encase or hide the mirror actuator 516 andother internal components or the like of the rearview mirror assemblythat are disposed at or to the rear of the reflective element. As can beseen in FIGS. 23-29, when the mirror reflective element 512 is adjustedrelative to the outer casing 514 to adjust the driver's rearward andsideward field of view, the inner casing or shroud 520 is all that isviewable behind the reflective element 512 and functions to hide andconceal and protect the inner components of the reflective element inany and all of its adjustable positions or orientations relative to themirror casing.

The mirror casing 514 may comprise any suitable casing and may bedesigned and shaped in a manner selected for a particular vehicleapplication. The mirror casing is attached at a mounting portion 522,which mounts the mirror assembly at the side of the vehicle. Optionally,the mirror casing may be generally fixedly attached at the mountingportion or the mirror casing may be pivotally attached at the mountingportion, such as to allow for folding of the mirror casing between a useposition and a folded or non-use position. Optionally, the mirrorassembly may comprise a powerfold mirror assembly, whereby such foldingor pivoting of the mirror casing may be achieved via a powered motor oractuator or the like. The reflective element 512 and shroud or flange520 are movably or adjustably disposed at least partially in the mirrorcasing and move with the mirror casing when it is moved relative to theside of the vehicle (such as for powerfold and/or breakaway mirrorapplications).

As shown in FIG. 23, the inner casing or shroud or flange 520 may beintegrally formed with the back plate 518 (or optionally, the flange orshroud 520 may be attached at the back plate and/or attached at thereflective element or the like) and extends rearward therefrom. In theillustrated embodiment, the shroud 520 curves inward to cover or concealor at least partially cover or conceal the back plate and mirroractuator and the like at the rear of the reflective element. As can beseen in FIG. 23, the shroud 520 is received in the mirror casing 514 andtapers inward to allow for pivotal movement of the mirror reflectiveelement (and back plate and shroud) relative to the mirror casing 514without interference between the shroud and mirror casing (or optionallywith minimal interference where the shroud may slide relative to theinner surface of the mirror casing such as when the mirror reflectiveelement is adjusted by the driver of the vehicle to adjust his or herrearward field of view). When the reflective element is in a neutral orcentered orientation (not angled sidewardly or upwardly or downwardly,such as shown in FIG. 23), the reflective element may be disposedoutboard of the mirror casing, with the shroud being viewable around theperimeter of and rearward of the reflective element. Thus, the mirrorcasing size and shape may be reduced and the mirror casing cavity may besized to receive the shroud 520 therein with little or minimal clearancebetween an outboard surface of the shroud and an inner surface of themirror casing at its open end 514 a.

Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 23-29, a lip or flange 520 a may beprovided around the perimeter edge of the reflective element and mayprotrude radially outwardly from the outer surface of the shroud 520that is rearward of the reflective element. When the mirror reflectiveelement 512 is fully tilted or pivoted to either its outboard direction(FIG. 24), its inboard direction (FIG. 25), upwardly (FIGS. 26 and 28)and/or downwardly (FIGS. 27 and 29), the lip 520 a at the respectiveperimeter region of the reflective element may approach or even contactthe open end 514 a of the mirror casing, such as can be seen in FIGS.24-29.

Optionally, the shroud 520 may be open at its inner or rearward end toallow for mounting of the mirror actuator within the mirror casing 514,or the shroud may be closed so that the mirror reflective elementassembly or mirror head may comprise a closed or sealed unit that may bereadily mounted in the mirror casing (whereby the actuator may bereadily electrically connected to an electrical connector in the mirrorcasing). When so mounted, and as can be seen with reference to FIGS.24-29, the mirror reflective element may be adjusted upward, downwardand sideward relative to the mirror casing, while the shroud concealsthe back plate and actuator from view.

The exterior rearview mirror assembly 510 thus comprises an exteriorrearview mirror assembly having a fixed outer mirror casing or housing,with the reflective element “holder” extending into the casing andhaving approximately the same height and width as the inner edge of themirror casing perimeter. The flange or shroud or inner housing isreceived in or tucks inside the mirror casing to cover or substantiallycover and conceal the actuator and to hide the internal components andthe like of the mirror assembly. Such an inner housing or shroudconfiguration allows for enhanced fine tuning of aerodynamic propertiesof the exterior mirror assembly, because the mirror casing does not moveand allows for the size of the mirror casing to be reduced to a reducedsize while the mirror assembly still meets minimum vision requirements.The actuator may operate to adjust the mirror reflective element in anysuitable manner (such as in a manner similar to that of conventionalexterior mirror actuators), but with the reflective element beingdisposed outboard of the open end of the mirror casing and with theshroud being exposed at the rear of the mirror reflective element (andbetween the reflective element and the mirror casing) and hiding theactuator and other components disposed behind the reflective element.

Optionally, the exterior rearview mirror assembly may comprise aframeless outside mirror reflective element that provides for adjustmentof the mirror reflective element via use of a single actuator located inthe head of the mirror. The actuator may combine the functions of theglass and power fold actuators. For example, and with reference to FIGS.30-33, an exterior rearview mirror assembly 610 includes a mirrorreflective element 612 attached at an attaching surface or portion 614 aof a mirror head 614, with the mirror head mounted at a mirror base 616and movable or adjustable relative to the base via an actuator 618. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the mirror head 614 includes a cover elementor mirror cover 614 b that is attached at a base or attaching portion614 c of the mirror head 614. The actuator 618 is operable to adjust themirror head (and the reflective element fixedly attached thereto) toadjust the rearward field of view of the driver at the reflectiveelement. The actuator 618 is also operable to move the mirror head abouta generally vertical pivot axis to provide a powerfold function. Theactuator may utilize aspects of the mirror actuators described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/023,747, filed Feb. 9, 2011, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,915,601, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

The present invention also benefits from, and optionally utilizes,aspects of the single motor actuation and mechanical/electricalconstruction as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,322,710, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, anactuator may be used that comprises a clutch assembly that selectivelytransfers torque from an actuator motor to one of at least two outputshafts based on the speed of the actuator motor. One output shaft canpivot about a first axis of rotation, and another output shaft can pivotabout a second axis of rotation. Optionally, one output shaft can pivotthe mirror head and another output shaft can extend and retract themirror head, such as is beneficial for use in an extendable/trailer towexterior rearview mirror of an equipped vehicle.

Optionally, other mirror designs or configurations may be contemplatedin accordance with the present invention, such as various configurationsof the mirror casing and reflective element and any bezel at the mirrorreflective element. For example, the mirror assembly may include aplastic molding that comprises a portion that (a) abuts acircumferential edge of the mirror glass substrate (such as the frontglass substrate of an electrochromic mirror reflective element or aglass prism of a prismatic mirror reflective element) and (b) has anouter curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to a firstsurface of the glass substrate and that may lack a sharp edge, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,255,541; 7,289,037; 7,360,932 and/or8,049,640, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/752,305, filedApr. 1, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,529,108, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, for example, themirror assembly may include a reflective element with a beveled orrounded or curved or ground or polished front perimeter of the glasssubstrate (such as a polished perimeter that is polished to awater-clear finish and that has a radius of curvature of at least about2.5 mm) that may be exposed to, contactable by and viewable by thedriver of the vehicle when the rearview mirror assembly is normallymounted in the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies shown and/or described in U.S. Des. Pat. Nos. D633,423;D633,019; D638,761 and/or D647,017, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2012/064398, filed Nov. 9, 2012 and published May 16, 2013 asInternational Publication No. WO 2013/071070, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2011/056295, filed Oct. 14, 2011 and published Apr. 19, 2012 asInternational Publication No. WO 2012/051500, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2010/032017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published Oct. 28, 2010 asInternational Publication No. WO 2010/124064, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 and published Apr. 14, 2011 asInternational Publication No. WO 2011/044312, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, themirror assembly may include a conventional bezel, such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 7,224,324, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

The overall mirror assembly may comprise a modular exterior rearviewmirror assembly, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,003, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and/or may beconstructed in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,878, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include various other features, suchas lighting and/or indicators and/or blind spot detectors and/or wideangle reflectors or spotter mirrors and/or the like. For example, themirror assembly may include any other electronic or mechanical content,such as, for example, a blind spot indicator and/or a turn signalindicator and/or an illumination module and/or wide angle reflectorelements and/or the like (such as by utilizing aspects of the exteriormirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,058,977; 7,944,371;7,492,281; 6,198,409; 5,929,786; 5,786,772; 7,581,859; 6,227,689;6,582,109; 5,371,659; 5,497,306; 5,669,699; 5,823,654; 6,176,602;6,276,821; 7,748,856; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 6,717,712; 7,126,456;6,315,419; 7,097,312 and/or 6,522,451, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/187,725 , filed Aug. 7, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,786,704,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 16, 2006 andpublished Nov. 23, 2006 as International Publication No. WO 2006/124682,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, for example, the mirror reflective element suitable for usein accordance with the present invention may be made by (or may besupplied to) the exterior rearview mirror manufacturer as a module orunitary sub-assembly that comprises at least a mirror reflective element(that may be a fixed reflectance mirror reflective element such as achrome coated glass substrate/shape or that may be an electrochromic orotherwise electro-optically active exterior mirror reflective element,preferably a laminate-type electrochromic mirror reflective element).The unitary reflective element sub-assembly may also include a heater(such as a heater pad or the like) operable to deice/demist thefront/first surface of the mirror reflective element. The unitaryreflective element sub-assembly may also include a backing plate and/orbacking/attachment structure or elements for attaching the unitaryreflective element sub-assembly at the mirror head. Optionally, themirror element of the reflective element sub-assembly may include ablind spot viewing auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror element that maybe of the integrated type (such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,315,419and/or U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0225421, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties) or that may be a coplanar type or acircular spotter type or a WideVue™ type or construction (such assupplied by Magna Mirrors of Holland, Mich.), such as in accordance withU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,522,451; 6,717,712; 7,167,294; 7,589,883 and/or8,267,534, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Also, the unitary reflective element sub-assembly maycomprise an extended field of view mirror reflective element, such as areflective element utilizing aspects of the mirrors described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,420,756, and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No.60/471,872, filed May 20, 2003, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Optionally, for example, a bezel portion or lighting device may bedisposed at the reflective element and/or the mirror casing via anysuitable means, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assembliesdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,932, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/644,593, filed Oct. 4, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,475,431,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.The functional capabilities of such a lighting device should meet thedesired or required functional requirements of the OEM and anyregulation requirements. The lighting device provides a means ofilluminating the perimeter of the mirror reflective element of theexterior rearview mirror assembly and allows for customized lightcolors. For example, the illumination feature may operate in conjunctionwith or corresponding to a selected custom color for the interiorlighting of the vehicle (such as MYCOLOR® offered by Ford MotorCompany), whereby the illumination color emitted by an illuminationsource or sources or lighting element of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly may be selected or customized by the user to a desired color orcolor combination. The colored illumination scheme may be selected tomatch the lighting scheme of the vehicle at which the mirror assembly ismounted or the owner of the vehicle may separately select a color schemeto customize or personalize the exterior rearview mirror assembly (suchas by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,626,749; 7,255,451; 7,289,037, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or a mirror system of the vehiclemay include one or more displays, such as the types disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, and/or display-on-demandtransflective type displays, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,855,755; 7,734,392; 7,370,983; 7,338,177; 7,274,501; 7,255,451;7,195,381; 7,184,190; 7,046,448; 6,902,284; 6,428,172; 6,420,975;5,668,663; 5,724,187; 6,690,268; 5,416,313; 5,285,060; 5,193,029 and/or4,793,690, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/023,750, filedFeb. 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,890,955; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filedSep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No.US-2006-0061008; Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and publishedMar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0050018; Ser. No. 12/091,525,filed Apr. 25, 2008 and published Jan. 15, 2009 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No.US-2009-0015736; Ser. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008 and publishedJan. 15, 2009 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2009-0015736; Ser. No.12/578,732, filed Oct. 14, 2009 and published Apr. 22, 2010 as U.S. Pat.Pub. No. US-2010-0097469; Ser. No. 09/585,379, filed Jun. 1, 2000, nowabandoned; and/or Ser. No. 10/207,291, filed Jul. 29, 2002, nowabandoned, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US10/47256, filed Aug. 31,2010, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

The video display screen may be controlled or operable in response to aninput or signal, such as a signal received from one or more cameras orimage sensors of the vehicle, such as a video camera or sensor, such asa CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or the like, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,760,962; 6,396,397; 6,097,023;5,877,897 and 5,796,094, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005 and published Aug. 3, 2006 as U.S. Pat.Pub. No. US-2006-0171704, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, or from one or more imaging systems ofthe vehicle, such as a reverse or backup aid system, such as arearwardly directed vehicle vision system utilizing principles disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,396,397;6,498,620; 6,717,610 and/or 6,757,109, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, a trailer hitching aid or towcheck system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, acabin viewing or monitoring device or system, such as a baby viewing orrear seat viewing camera or device or system or the like, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,877,897 and/or 6,690,268, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a videocommunication device or system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,690,268, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, and/or the like. The imaging sensor or camera may be activatedand the display screen may be activated in response to the vehicleshifting into reverse, such that the display screen is viewable by thedriver and is displaying an image of the rearward scene while the driveris reversing the vehicle.

Optionally, a rear camera, such as a rear backup video camera/imager orthe like (such as a camera and system of the types described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 6,498,620; 6,222,447 and/or 5,949,331,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties),may be disposed at the vehicle (such as at a rear portion of the vehicleand/or at one or both sideview mirrors of the vehicle) and may have arearward field of view rearward of the vehicle for capturing imagesrearward of the vehicle such as for driver assistance during a reversingmaneuver of the vehicle or the like. Because such a rear camera has arearward field of view, the rearward facing camera may be operable tocapture images of rearwardly approaching or following vehicles that arebehind the vehicle equipped with the rearward facing camera when thevehicle so equipped is driving forwardly along the road or highway. Itis envisioned that an image processor or controller (such as an EyeQ™image processing chip available from Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.of Jerusalem, Israel, and such as an image processor of the typesdescribed in PCT Application No. PCT/US10/25545, filed Feb. 25, 2010 andpublished Sep. 2, 2010 as International Pub. No. WO/2010/099416, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) may processimage data captured by the rearward facing camera to assess glarelighting conditions (such as to detect headlights of following vehiclesthat may cause glare at the interior and/or exterior rearview mirrorassemblies of the equipped vehicle), and the controller may adjust orcontrol the dimming of the electro-optic mirror assembly or assembliesof the equipped vehicle responsive to such image processing. Usingprinciples of the systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,677, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, the system mayoperate to independently control any one or more of the interiorrearview mirror assembly and the exterior rearview mirror assemblies ofthe equipped vehicle, such as based on the intensity and location ofglare light detected by the camera and image processor. Such a rearreversing or backup camera and controller can also operate to detect theambient light level present at the vehicle and may adjust the dimming ofthe mirror system accordingly, and/or may adjust other displays,lighting and/or accessories of the vehicle in accordance with andresponsive to the ambient light detection by the rear backup camera (orby other cameras on the vehicle that view exterior to the vehicle). Suchglare detection and ambient light detection and image processing ofimage data captured by a rear backup assist camera of the vehicle mayobviate the need for a separate glare sensor elsewhere at the vehicle,such as at or in the interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle orthe like. Such image processing and such a mirror control system mayutilize aspects of the imaging systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 6,201,642; 6,396,397; 6,498,620;6,097,023; 5,877,897 and 5,796,094, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include other electrically operatedor powered accessories, such as a compass sensor and compass display.Such a compass sensor and circuitry for the compass system that detectsand displays the vehicle directional heading to a driver of the vehiclemay comprise any suitable compass sensor and/or circuitry, such as acompass system and compass circuitry that utilizes aspects of thecompass systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983; 7,329,013;7,289,037; 7,249,860; 7,004,593; 6,928,366; 6,642,851; 6,140,933;4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851;5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508;6,222,460 and/or 6,513,252, and/or European patent application,published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 andpublished Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0061008, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thecompass circuitry may include compass sensors, such as amagneto-responsive sensor, such as a magneto-resistive sensor, amagneto-capacitive sensor, a Hall sensor, a magneto-inductive sensor, aflux-gate sensor or the like. The compass sensor may be incorporated inor associated with a compass system and/or display system for displayinga directional heading of the vehicle to the driver, such as a compasssystem of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037; 5,924,212;4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; 5,632,092 and/or 7,004,593,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, an integrated automotive “compass-on-a-chip” maybe disposed in a cavity of the mounting base of the mirror (or withinthe mirror housing or in an attachment to the mirror mount or elsewherewithin the mirror assembly such as to the rear of the video screen or tothe rear of the mirror reflective element) and may comprise at least twosensor elements (such as magneto-responsive sensor elements, or a Halleffect sensor or multiple Hall effect sensors), associated ND and D/Aconverters, associated microprocessor(s) and memory, associated signalprocessing and filtering, associated display driver and associatedLIN/CAN BUS interface and the like, all (or a sub-set thereof) createdor disposed or commonly established onto a semiconductor chipsurface/substrate or silicon substrate, such as utilizing CMOStechnology and/or fabrication techniques as known in the semiconductormanufacturing arts, and constituting an application specific integratedchip (“ASIC”), such as utilizing principles described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,815,326; 7,004,593; 7,329,013 and/or 7,370,983, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar.23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0061008, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/or such as byutilizing aspects of an EC driver-on-a-chip such as described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,480,149, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

As discussed above, the mirror assembly may comprise an electro-optic orelectrochromic mirror assembly that includes an electro-optic orelectrochromic reflective element. The perimeter edges of the reflectiveelement may be encased or encompassed by the perimeter element orportion of the bezel portion to conceal and contain and envelop theperimeter edges of the substrates and the perimeter seal disposedtherebetween. The electrochromic mirror element of the electrochromicmirror assembly may utilize the principles disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190;6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,420,036; 6,178,034; 6,154,306;6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109;5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854;5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2010/029173, filed Mar. 30, 2010, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, and/or as disclosed in thefollowing publications: N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic AutomotiveDay/Night Mirrors”, SAE Technical Paper Series 870636 (1987); N. R.Lynam, “Smart Windows for Automobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications ofChromogenic Materials”, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devicesfor Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS.,Optical Engineering Press, Wash. (1990), which are hereby incorporatedby reference herein in their entireties; and/or as described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,195,381, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety. Optionally, the electrochromic circuitry and/or a glaresensor (such as a rearward facing glare sensor that receives light fromrearward of the mirror assembly and vehicle through a port or openingalong the casing and/or reflective element of the mirror assembly) andcircuitry and/or an ambient light sensor and circuitry may be providedon one or more circuit boards of the mirror assembly.

Optionally, the reflective element may include an opaque orsubstantially opaque or hiding perimeter layer or coating or banddisposed around a perimeter edge region of the front substrate (such asat a perimeter region of the rear or second surface of the frontsubstrate) to conceal or hide or the perimeter seal from viewing by thedriver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted inthe vehicle. Such a hiding layer or perimeter band may be reflective ornot reflective and may utilize aspects of the perimeter bands and mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,066,112; 7,626,749; 7,274,501;7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2010/032017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published Oct. 28, 2010 asInternational Publication No. WO 2010/124064, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 and published Apr. 14, 2011 asInternational Publication No. WO 2011/044312, and/or U.S. pat.application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar.23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0061008, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, theperimeter band may comprise a chrome/chromium coating or metalliccoating and/or may comprise a chrome/chromium or metallic coating thathas a reduced reflectance, such as by using an oxidized chrome coatingor chromium oxide coating or “black chrome” coating or the like (such asby utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties). Optionally, other opaque orsubstantially opaque coatings or bands may be implemented whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The exterior rearview mirror assembly may include a casing, such asdescribed above, or the mirror assembly may comprise or utilize aspectsof other types of casings or the like, such as described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,338,177; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; 6,439,755; 4,826,289 and6,501,387, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, without affecting the scope of the present invention.For example, the mirror assembly may utilize aspects of the flush orframeless or bezelless reflective elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,626,749; 7,360,932; 7,289,037; 7,255,451; 7,274,501 and/or U.S. Pat.No. 7,184,190, and/or in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 11/226,628,filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No.US-2006-0061008; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 andpublished Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0050018, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may comprise a modular mirrorconstruction, and may include back housing portions or the like, such ascap portions of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,289,037, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A displayscreen may be provided as a modular display screen and may be mountableor installable in the appropriate or suitable mirror casing to provide amodular mirror assembly and display screen. For example, a rear casingor cap portion may include the display screen module including theassociated components, such as the rails and motor and the like for avideo slideout module (such as by utilizing aspects of the video mirrorsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983 and 6,690,268, and/or U.S. patentapplications Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar.9, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0050018; and/or Ser. No.12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008 and published Jan. 15, 2009 as U.S. Pat.Pub. No. US-2009-0015736, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties), and may be attachable to a reflectiveelement and/or mirror casing to assemble the modular mirror assembly.The display screen module thus may be provided as an optional componentor accessory for a vehicle, and may be readily assembled to a commonreflective element and/or mirror casing of the mirror assembly.

Optionally, the mirror casing and/or reflective element may includecustomized or personalized viewable characteristics, such as color orsymbols or indicia selected by the vehicle manufacturer or owner of thevehicle, such as the customization characteristics described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,626,749; 7,255,451; 7,289,037, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or any associated user inputs may beassociated with various accessories or systems, such as, for example, atire pressure monitoring system or a passenger air bag status or agarage door opening system or a telematics system or any other accessoryor system of the mirror assembly or of the vehicle or of an accessorymodule or console of the vehicle, such as an accessory module or consoleof the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037; 6,877,888;6,824,281; 6,690,268; 6,672,744; 6,386,742 and/or 6,124,886, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 andpublished Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0050018, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the user inputs or buttons may comprise user inputs for agarage door opening system, such as a vehicle based garage door openingsystem of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771;7,023,322 and/or 5,798,688, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. The user inputs may also or otherwisefunction to activate and deactivate a display or function or accessory,and/or may activate/deactivate and/or commence a calibration of acompass system of the mirror assembly and/or vehicle. The compass systemmay include compass sensors and circuitry within the mirror assembly orwithin a compass pod or module at or near or associated with the mirrorassembly. Optionally, the user inputs may also or otherwise compriseuser inputs for a telematics system of the vehicle, such as, forexample, an ONSTAR® system as found in General Motors vehicles and/orsuch as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154;5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,798,688; 5,971,552; 5,924,212; 6,243,003;6,278,377; 6,420,975; 6,477,464; 6,946,978; 7,308,341; 7,167,796;7,004,593; 7,657,052 and/or 6,678,614, and/or U.S. pat. application Ser.No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S.Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0050018, which are all hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more otheraccessories at or within the mirror casing, such as one or moreelectrical or electronic devices or accessories, such as antennas,including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a blind spot detectionsystem, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like,a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, ahigh/low headlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video devicefor internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keylessentry receiver, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more otherlights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756;5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253;5,669,698; 7,195,381; 6,971,775 and/or 7,249,860, microphones, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,657,052; 6,243,003; 6,278,377 and/or6,420,975, speakers, antennas, including global positioning system (GPS)or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,798,688, a voice recorder, a blind spot detection system, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,720,580; 7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786and/or 5,786,772, transmitters and/or receivers, such as for a garagedoor opener or a vehicle door unlocking system or the like (such as aremote keyless entry system), a digital network, such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a high/low headlamp controller, such as acamera-based headlamp control, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, an imagingsystem or components or circuitry or display thereof, such as an imagingand/or display system of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,400,435; 7,526,103; 6,690,268 and/or 6,847,487, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005 and published Jun.15, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0125919, a video device forinternal cabin surveillance (such as for sleep detection or driverdrowsiness detection or the like) and/or video telephone function, suchas disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remotekeyless entry receiver, a seat occupancy detector, a remote startercontrol, a yaw sensor, a clock, a carbon monoxide detector, statusdisplays, such as displays that display a status of a door of thevehicle, a transmission selection (4wd/2wd or traction control (TCS) orthe like), an antilock braking system, a road condition (that may warnthe driver of icy road conditions) and/or the like, a trip computer, atire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver (such as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,647; 6,294,989; 6,445,287; 6,472,979; 6,731,205and/or 7,423,522, and/or an ONSTAR® system, a compass, such as disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442and/or 5,632,092, and/or any other accessory or circuitry or the like(with all of the above-referenced patents and PCT and U.S. patentapplications being commonly assigned to Donnelly Corporation and beinghereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, the mirror assembly (such as at the mounting base, which maybe fixed relative to the vehicle windshield) may include an imagingsensor (such as a forward facing imaging sensor or camera that has aforward field of view through the vehicle windshield) that may be partof or may provide an image output for a vehicle vision system, such as aheadlamp control system or lane departure warning system or objectdetection system or other vehicle vision system or the like, and mayutilize aspects of various imaging sensors or imaging array sensors orcameras or the like, such as a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensoror other sensors or the like, such as the types described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,715,093; 5,877,897; 6,922,292;6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,590,719; 6,201,642; 6,498,620; 5,796,094;6,097,023; 6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261; 6,806,452; 6,396,397;6,822,563; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 7,004,606 and/or 7,720,580, and/or U.S.patent applications, Ser. No. 10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005 andpublished Aug. 3, 2006 as U.S. Patent Publication No. US-2006-0171704;Ser. No. 12/091,359, filed Jun. 10, 2008 and published Oct. 1, 2009 asU.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2009-0244361; and/or Ser. No. 12/377,054, filedFeb. 10, 2009 and published Aug. 26, 2010 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No.US-2010-0214791, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US08/78700, filed Oct.3, 2008 and published Apr. 9, 2009 as International Publication No. WO2009/046268, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US08/76022, filed Sep. 11,2008 and published Mar. 19, 2009 as International Publication No. WO2009/036176, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. The sensor may include a lens element or optic betweenthe imaging plane of the imaging sensor and the forward scene tosubstantially focus the scene at an image plane of the imaging sensor.The imaging sensor may comprise an image sensing module or the like, andmay utilize aspects described in U.S. patent applications, Ser. No.10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005 and published Aug. 3, 2006 as U.S. Pat.Pub. No. US-2006-0171704; and/or Ser. No. 12/091,359, filed Oct. 27,2006 and published Oct. 1, 2009 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2009-0244361,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at anexterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assemblycomprising: a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, whereinsaid first end of said mounting arm is configured for attachment at anexterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearviewmirror assembly; a mirror head disposed at said second end of saidmounting arm and movable relative to said mounting arm; wherein saidmirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;an electrically-operable actuator, wherein, with said first end of saidmounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle,said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said mirror headrelative to said mounting arm; wherein, when said actuator iselectrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mountingarm, said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing both move intandem with movement of said mirror head relative to said mounting arm;and wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at theexterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, whenelectrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mountingarm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of adriver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflectiveelement.
 2. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid mirror head comprises a base, and wherein, when said actuator iselectrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mountingarm, said base moves in tandem with said mirror head.
 3. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said actuator attaches atsaid base.
 4. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, whereinsaid base attaches at said second end of said mounting arm.
 5. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said exteriorrearview mirror assembly comprises a breakaway exterior rearview mirrorassembly, and wherein said first end of said mounting arm attaches atthe exterior portion of the equipped vehicle via a breakaway jointwhereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at theexterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirrorassembly is manually adjustable between (i) a use position where saidmounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equippedvehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirrorhead, the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehiclewho is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a foldedposition where said mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion ofthe equipped vehicle.
 6. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim1, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a powerfoldexterior rearview mirror assembly, whereby, with said exterior rearviewmirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle,said exterior rearview mirror assembly is electrically adjustablebetween (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardlyfrom the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by saidmirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field ofview to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirrorreflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting armis folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.
 7. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator isat least partially accommodated by said mirror head.
 8. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein, with said first end ofsaid mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equippedvehicle, said mirror casing at least partially hides said actuator fromview by the driver of the equipped vehicle.
 9. The exterior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises first andsecond electrically operated motors.
 10. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 9, wherein said first and second motors areindependently electrically operable to move said mirror head relative tosaid mounting arm.
 11. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim10, wherein said first and second motors, when said actuator iselectrically operated, are electrically operated at different rotationalspeeds to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to adjustthe rearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehicle who isviewing said mirror reflective element.
 12. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 9, wherein said first motor, when electricallyoperated, rotatably drives a first output shaft having a first axis, andwherein said second motor, when electrically operated, rotatably drivesa second output shaft having a second axis, and wherein said first andsecond axes are angled relative to one another.
 13. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said first and second axesare at an angle, relative to one another, in a range of 15 degrees to 90degrees.
 14. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid mirror head comprises an attachment element and wherein said mirrorreflective element is attached at said attachment element, and wherein,when said actuator is electrically operated, said attachment elementmoves in tandem with movement of said mirror head.
 15. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein a portion of said mirrorhead that is remote from said attachment element attaches at said secondend of said mounting arm.
 16. The exterior rearview mirror assembly ofclaim 14, wherein said attachment element comprises an attachment plate.17. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein saidactuator, when electrically operated, moves said attachment element tomove said mirror head.
 18. The exterior rearview mirror assembly ofclaim 14, wherein said attachment element comprises structure having afront portion and a rear portion, and wherein said front portioncomprises structure for attachment of said mirror reflective elementthereat, and wherein said rear portion comprises structure for attachinga mirror cover thereat, and wherein said rear portion is configured forattachment at said actuator.
 19. The exterior rearview mirror assemblyof claim 18, wherein said mirror casing comprises said mirror coverattached at said rear portion of said attachment element.
 20. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror headhouses at least one accessory that is disposed behind said mirrorreflective element and that is accommodated within said mirror casing ofsaid mirror head.
 21. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20,wherein said at least one accessory comprises a camera.
 22. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflectiveelement comprises a glass substrate having a front surface and a rearsurface, with a perimeter edge spanning between said front and rearsurfaces, and wherein said perimeter edge comprises a rounded perimeterglass surface that curves to said front surface and that has a radius ofcurvature of at least 2.5 mm, and wherein, with said exterior rearviewmirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle,said rounded perimeter glass surface is exposed to and is contactable bythe driver of the equipped vehicle.
 23. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 22, wherein said mirror casing does not overlap saidrounded perimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge spanning betweensaid front and rear surfaces of said glass substrate of said mirrorreflective element.
 24. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim23, wherein said rounded perimeter glass surface of said perimeter edgeof said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element has awater-clear finish.
 25. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim22, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromicmirror reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rearsubstrate with an electrochromic medium disposed between said front andrear substrates and bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said glasssubstrate having said rounded perimeter glass surface comprises saidfront glass substrate of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.26. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein theexterior portion of the equipped vehicle comprises an exterior portionof a side door of the equipped vehicle.
 27. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 26, wherein the side door comprises a passenger sidedoor of the equipped vehicle.
 28. The exterior rearview mirror assemblyof claim 26, wherein the side door comprises a driver side door of theequipped vehicle.
 29. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configuredfor mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearviewmirror assembly comprising: a mounting arm having a first end and asecond end, wherein said first end of said mounting arm is configuredfor attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with saidexterior rearview mirror assembly; a mirror head disposed at said secondend of said mounting arm and movable relative to said mounting arm;wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element; whereinsaid mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate having afront surface and a rear surface, with a perimeter edge spanning betweensaid front and rear surfaces, and wherein said perimeter edge comprisesa rounded perimeter glass surface that curves to said front surface andthat has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm; wherein, with saidexterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of theequipped vehicle, said rounded perimeter glass surface is exposed to andis contactable by a driver of the equipped vehicle; anelectrically-operable actuator disposed at said mounting arm; wherein,with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exteriorportion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, when electricallyoperated, moves said mirror head relative to said mounting arm; wherein,when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror headrelative to said mounting arm, said mirror reflective element moves intandem with movement of said mirror head relative to said mounting arm;and wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at theexterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, whenelectrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mountingarm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view ofthe driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflectiveelement.
 30. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, whereinsaid mirror head comprises a base, and wherein, when said actuator iselectrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mountingarm, said base moves in tandem with said mirror head.
 31. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 30, wherein said actuator attaches atsaid base.
 32. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29,wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a breakawayexterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said first end of saidmounting arm attaches at the exterior portion of the equipped vehiclevia a breakaway joint whereby, with said exterior rearview mirrorassembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, saidexterior rearview mirror assembly is manually adjustable between (i) ause position where said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exteriorportion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflectiveelement of said mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver ofthe equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and(ii) a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exteriorportion of the equipped vehicle.
 33. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 29, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assemblycomprises a powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly, whereby, withsaid exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portionof the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly iselectrically adjustable between (i) a use position where said mountingarm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equipped vehiclefor providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirror head,the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehicle who isviewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a folded position wheresaid mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion of the equippedvehicle.
 34. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, whereinsaid actuator is at least partially accommodated by said mirror head.35. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein saidactuator comprises first and second electrically operated motors. 36.The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said firstand second motors are independently electrically operable to move saidmirror head relative to said mounting arm.
 37. The exterior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said first and second motors, whensaid actuator is electrically operated, are electrically operated atdifferent rotational speeds to move said mirror head relative to saidmounting arm to adjust the rearward field of view of the driver of theequipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element.
 38. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said mirror headcomprises an attachment element and wherein said mirror reflectiveelement is attached at said attachment element, and wherein, when saidactuator is electrically operated, said attachment element moves intandem with movement of said mirror head.
 39. The exterior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 38, wherein said attachment element comprisesan attachment plate.
 40. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim38, wherein said actuator, when electrically operated, moves saidattachment element to move said mirror head.
 41. The exterior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 38, wherein said attachment element comprisesstructure having a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein saidfront portion comprises structure for attachment of said mirrorreflective element thereat, and wherein said rear portion is configuredfor attachment at said actuator.
 42. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 41, wherein said rear portion comprises structure forattaching a mirror cover thereat.
 43. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 42, wherein the exterior portion of the equippedvehicle comprises an exterior portion of a side door of the equippedvehicle.
 44. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, whereinthe side door comprises a passenger side door of the equipped vehicle.45. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, wherein the sidedoor comprises a driver side door of the equipped vehicle.
 46. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said mirrorreflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective elementhaving a front glass substrate and a rear substrate with anelectrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear substratesand bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said glass substrate havingsaid rounded perimeter glass surface comprises said front glasssubstrate of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.
 47. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said roundedperimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge of said glass substrateof said mirror reflective element has a water-clear finish.
 48. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said mirror headcomprises a mirror casing, and wherein, when said actuator iselectrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mountingarm, said mirror casing and said mirror reflective element both move intandem with said mirror head.
 49. The exterior rearview mirror assemblyof claim 48, wherein said mirror casing does not overlap said roundedperimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge spanning between saidfront and rear surfaces of said glass substrate of said mirrorreflective element.
 50. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim49, wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at theexterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said mirror casing at leastpartially hides said actuator from view by the driver of the equippedvehicle.
 51. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured formounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearviewmirror assembly comprising: a mounting arm having a first end and asecond end, wherein said first end of said mounting arm is configuredfor attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with saidexterior rearview mirror assembly; a mirror head disposed at said secondend of said mounting arm and movable relative to said mounting arm;wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirrorreflective element; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises aglass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, with aperimeter edge spanning between said front and rear surfaces, andwherein said perimeter edge comprises a rounded perimeter glass surfacethat curves to said front surface and that has a radius of curvature ofat least 2.5 mm; wherein said mirror casing does not overlap saidrounded perimeter glass surface so that, with said exterior rearviewmirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle,said rounded perimeter glass surface is exposed to and is contactable bya driver of the equipped vehicle; an electrically-operable actuator,wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at theexterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, whenelectrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mountingarm; wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move saidmirror head relative to said mounting arm, said mirror reflectiveelement and said mirror casing both move in tandem with movement of saidmirror head relative to said mounting arm; and wherein, with said firstend of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of theequipped vehicle, said actuator, when electrically operated, moves saidmirror head relative to said mounting arm to vertically and horizontallyadjust a rearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehiclewho is viewing said mirror reflective element.
 52. The exterior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said mirror head comprises a base,and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move saidmirror head relative to said mounting arm, said base moves in tandemwith said mirror head.
 53. The exterior rearview mirror assembly ofclaim 52, wherein said actuator attaches at said base.
 54. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 52, wherein said base attaches at saidsecond end of said mounting arm.
 55. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 51, wherein said actuator attaches said mirror head atsaid second end of said mounting arm.
 56. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 51, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assemblycomprises a breakaway exterior rearview mirror assembly, and whereinsaid first end of said mounting arm attaches at the exterior portion ofthe equipped vehicle via a breakaway joint whereby, with said exteriorrearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equippedvehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly is manually adjustablebetween (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardlyfrom the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by saidmirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field ofview to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirrorreflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting armis folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.
 57. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said exteriorrearview mirror assembly comprises a powerfold exterior rearview mirrorassembly, whereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mountedat the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearviewmirror assembly is electrically adjustable between (i) a use positionwhere said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion ofthe equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element ofsaid mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver of theequipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii)a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exteriorportion of the equipped vehicle.
 58. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 51, wherein said actuator is at least partiallyaccommodated by said mirror head.
 59. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 58, wherein, with said first end of said mounting armattached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said mirrorcasing at least partially hides said actuator from view by the driver ofthe equipped vehicle.
 60. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim51, wherein said actuator comprises first and second electricallyoperated motors.
 61. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 60,wherein said first and second motors, when said actuator is electricallyoperated, are electrically operated at different rotational speeds tomove said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to adjust therearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehicle who isviewing said mirror reflective element.
 62. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 60, wherein said first motor, when electricallyoperated, rotatably drives a first output shaft having a first axis, andwherein said second motor, when electrically operated, rotatably drivesa second output shaft having a second axis, and wherein said first andsecond axes are angled relative to one another.
 63. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 62, wherein said first and second axesare at an angle, relative to one another, in a range of 15 degrees to 90degrees.
 64. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, whereinsaid mirror head comprises an attachment element and wherein said mirrorreflective element is attached at said attachment element, and wherein,when said actuator is electrically operated, said attachment elementmoves in tandem with movement of said mirror head.
 65. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 64, wherein said attachment elementcomprises an attachment plate.
 66. The exterior rearview mirror assemblyof claim 64, wherein said actuator, when electrically operated, movessaid attachment element to move said mirror head.
 67. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 64, wherein said attachment elementcomprises structure having a front portion and a rear portion, andwherein said front portion comprises structure for attachment of saidmirror reflective element thereat, and wherein said rear portioncomprises structure for attaching a mirror cover thereat, and whereinsaid rear portion is configured for attachment at said actuator.
 68. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 67, wherein said mirrorcasing comprises said mirror cover attached at said rear portion of saidattachment element.
 69. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim51, wherein the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle comprises anexterior portion of a side door of the equipped vehicle.
 70. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 69, wherein the side doorcomprises a passenger side door of the equipped vehicle.
 71. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 69, wherein the side doorcomprises a driver side door of the equipped vehicle.
 72. The exteriorrearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said mirror reflectiveelement comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element having afront glass substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic mediumdisposed between said front and rear substrates and bounded by aperimeter seal, and wherein said glass substrate having said roundedperimeter glass surface comprises said front glass substrate of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element.
 73. The exterior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said rounded perimeter glasssurface of said perimeter edge of said glass substrate of said mirrorreflective element has a water-clear finish.